Bulgaria's EU commissioner Kristalina Georgieva said that the EU is strongly concerned about the situation in Russia, where wildfires have been raging for almost two weeks.

“We are viewing the problem in Russia as something very grave, for as we all can see it affects the life and health of many people,” stated Georgieva, who holds the international cooperation and humanitarian aid portfolio.

“I've lived in Moscow and I know what it means for this town to be surrounded by wildfires,” said the EU aid commissioner at an official meeting with Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov and World Bank president Robert Zoellick.

Before becoming EU commissioner, Gerogieva was direct subordinate to Zoellick, having occupied the position of World Bank vice president 2008-2010. She moved on to the European Commission with Zoellick's special approval.

At the meeting Monday Georgieva specified she has had talks with Russian Minister of Emergency Situations Sergey Shoygu on the situation and that many EU member states, including Bulgaria, have already contributed help.

On his part, Bulgarian PM Borisov reiterated his invitation to Russian children and firemen affected by the fires to stay in Bulgaria for rest and rehabilitation, which Russian PM Vladimir Putin had gladly accepted.

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