In a written answer on 4 August 2026, Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič's colleague, Commissioner Lahbib, defended the EU's role in supporting Spain's wildfire response while stressing that the primary responsibility for civil protection lies with member states. Responding to a parliamentary question from Spanish MEPs Dolors Montserrat (PPE), Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez (PPE), and Carmen Crespo Díaz (PPE), Lahbib detailed the assistance Spain has already requested and received, and outlined the financial instruments available for recovery. The answer implicitly pushes back on the suggestion that Spain should have activated more EU mechanisms, noting that it is for each member state to assess when assistance is needed.
Lahbib confirmed that Spain proactively requested the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) to preposition groundfire teams ahead of the wildfire season, with firefighters from Bulgaria, the Netherlands, and Poland joining regional responders from 1 July to 31 August 2026. She also noted that Spain activated the Copernicus satellite system several times this summer, and on 24 July 2026 activated the UCPM for wildfires in Ávila and Madrid, requesting four aerial firefighting planes. The response operation is still ongoing, with the Emergency Response Coordination Centre in close contact with Spanish authorities. This follows a series of devastating fires in Catalonia and Andalusia, including the Los Gallardos fire in Almería, which the MEPs described as the most tragic fire recorded in Andalusia.
On financial support, Lahbib pointed to the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) allocations for Andalusia: EUR 145 million for climate risk prevention, including forest fires, under the 2021–2027 programme, plus EUR 383 million available through Spain's pluri-regional programme for less developed regions. She also reminded that the EU Solidarity Fund can be requested by member states after severe natural disasters. The answer does not indicate whether Spain has applied for the Solidarity Fund, leaving that decision to the Spanish authorities.
The Commission's response is part of a broader EU push on wildfire resilience. In March 2026, the Commission adopted a Communication on integrated wildfire risk management (COM(2026) 330 final), which reviews existing tools and identifies potential new actions. That Communication builds on the Preparedness Union Strategy (JOIN(2025) 130 final), which aims to make the EU better prepared for current and future challenges. Lahbib's answer reinforces the Commission's line that while the EU provides support and investment, member states remain in the driver's seat for requesting assistance.
The answer is largely declarative, offering no new concrete proposals or numerical targets. It reiterates existing commitments and points to ongoing programmes, rather than announcing fresh measures. The Commission's stance reflects a balance between strengthening EU-level preparedness and respecting national sovereignty in civil protection. For affected regions like Andalusia, the practical impact depends on how quickly they can draw down ERDF funds and whether they choose to apply for the Solidarity Fund. For other member states, the answer signals that the Commission expects them to make full use of existing mechanisms, but it stops short of pushing for a more automatic or centralised EU response.