EU Offers Additional Equipment to US to Contain Oil Spill

11th Jun 2010 12:16

BRUSSELS (Dow Jones)--Several European Union member states have offered additional equipment to the U.S. to help combat the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, the European Commission said Friday. The offers came after U.S. officials Thursday requested oil booms to restrict the spread of petroleum on the ocean surface. "Europe is determined to fight this ecological disaster alongside the U.S. authorities," said Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Kristalina Georgieva in a statement. Sweden, Germany, Norway, the U.K., and the European Maritime Safety Agency have all donated booms, which the U.S. has yet to accept, said EU spokesman for energy Ferran Tarradellas. Other countries were expected to make similar offers shortly, he added. -By David Tidmarsh, Dow Jones Newswires; +32 (0)2 741 1 489; [email protected] (END) Dow Jones Newswires June 11, 2010 07:16 ET (11:16 GMT)