While as many as 25% of electricity consumers in the country are still without power, Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic have offered technical experts and electricity generators within hours of the Slovenian request, the European Commission said in a press release on Monday.

According to the release, some of the equipment has already arrived, together with technicians to install and operate it.

"We've seen an impressive gesture of European solidarity with this immediate response to an emergency affecting thousands of citizens in one of our member states," said International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva.

Other countries participating in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism are also exploring means to help, while the European Emergency Response Coordination Centre continues to coordinate the relief efforts and will give further support if needed.

Meanwhile, EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy said after a meeting with PM Alenka Bratušek today in Ljubljana that the EU would help with the funds available.

He expressed sympathy with everyone affected by the ice storm, saying that the mechanism of civil protection within the EU has been activated and is working. The Belgian praised the neighbouring countries that have already come to Slovenia's aid.