Brussels, 20 February 2010

The president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso has been today in contact with the president of the regional government of Madeira, Alberto Jo=E3o Jardim, and has conveyed his condolences for the victims of the devastating storms that had stroke the island of Madeira. President Barroso has also expressed his solidarity with the people affected and their families, and assured that he is following the situation very closely. The president has underlined the availability of the European Commission to support the Portuguese Authorities in this terrible catastrophe.