On 7 May 2026, EU Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, speaking in Cyprus, warned that Europe's wildfire season is becoming longer, more intense, and more unpredictable, and called for a comprehensive approach covering prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. He highlighted the new Cyprus firefighting hub as a strategic centre for the Eastern Mediterranean, hosting six pre-positioned aircraft and EU-funded training, and stressed that the EU's Civil Protection Mechanism has already responded to fires this year, including in the Netherlands.
The speech builds on the EU's recent wildfire roadmap adopted this spring, which covers the full wildfire cycle. Lenarčič noted that last summer, through the Civil Protection Mechanism, the EU responded to 19 requests for assistance, deploying nearly 800 firefighters and close to 60 planes and helicopters. He also referenced the Cyprus firefighting hub announced by Commission President von der Leyen in September 2025, which is now operational and will host pre-positioned teams for the first time.
Prevention and preparedness Lenarčič emphasised that prevention saves lives and money, citing examples such as grazing animals reducing dry vegetation and the importance of public awareness. He announced that the European Forest Fire Information System, powered by Copernicus satellites, is being reinforced to detect and track fires in near real time. For the fifth year, the EU is pre-positioning nearly 800 firefighters from 14 countries in high-risk areas, and for the first time, Cyprus will host pre-positioned teams. The rescEU fleet includes 18 airplanes and 4 helicopters stationed across 11 Member States, and fire behaviour experts will join the wildfire support team for the first time this year.
Cooperation and solidarity Lenarčič described the Cyprus hub as a strategic centre for the entire Eastern Mediterranean, enabling faster deployment of aircraft to hotspots in Cyprus, Lebanon, or Jordan. He framed the hub as a building block of the Pact for the Mediterranean, strengthening climate adaptation and trust between Europe and its southern neighbours. The Commissioner stressed that preparedness is a shared responsibility, involving businesses, scientists, volunteers, and citizens, and that wildfires are part of a broader threat landscape including wars, cyberattacks, and disinformation.
Stakeholder impacts EU producers and farmers in Mediterranean regions stand to benefit from improved prevention and faster response, reducing damage to crops and land. National authorities in high-risk countries gain enhanced coordination and pre-positioned resources, but may face administrative burdens in aligning with EU standards. EU taxpayers finance the hub and rescEU fleet, but may see long-term savings from reduced disaster costs. Firefighters and first responders receive better training and equipment, improving safety and effectiveness, though they face increased operational demands as fire seasons lengthen.
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