On 29 June 2026, the Council of the European Union adopted a Recommendation urging Member States to implement an integrated approach to wildfire risk management covering prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. The call follows the 2025 wildfire season, during which the EU's cumulative burnt area exceeded one million hectares for the first time. The non-binding Recommendation targets national authorities, land managers, and local communities, asking them to overhaul practices across the entire risk cycle.
The Recommendation, adopted by the Council, outlines a series of measures. Member States are asked to strengthen incentives for sustainable land management and prevention in fire-prone regions, and to promote sustainable forest management including diverse forest structures and alternatives to monocultural plantations of highly flammable species. They should map fuel load, draw up locally adapted fuel load management guidelines, and consider prescribed or controlled burning where appropriate and in line with national legal and safety requirements. The document also calls for better use of Union tools such as Copernicus Services and the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) for evidence-based risk management and early warning.
Further provisions include updating wildfire risk assessments, developing wildfire behaviour analysis capabilities, and investigating the causes of wildfires. Member States should raise awareness among farmers, foresters, land managers, and local communities about fire ignition risks, and integrate wildfire risk management into building standards and spatial planning decisions. They are also asked to collect and share real-time data on wildfire behaviour, strengthen host nation support capabilities for integrating international assistance through the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), and improve interoperability of firefighting equipment.
On recovery, the Recommendation urges Member States to collect cross-sectoral data to quantify wildfire impacts and identify post-fire recovery measures, including physical and mental health support. Finally, they should plan for long-term funding at all stages of the wildfire risk management cycle, with particular attention to prevention and preparedness.
Stakeholder impact The Recommendation has direct implications for several groups. National authorities in fire-prone regions will need to update risk assessments, invest in data collection and analysis, and adjust spatial planning and building standards—potentially increasing administrative and financial burdens. Farmers, foresters, and land managers may face new incentives or requirements for sustainable land management and fuel load reduction, affecting operational practices and costs. Local communities could benefit from improved early warning and awareness campaigns, reducing fire risk, but may also see restrictions on land use or building permits. EU bodies such as the Commission and the European Environment Agency will likely be called upon to support implementation through tools like Copernicus and EFFIS, potentially requiring additional resources.
Institutional follow-up As a Council Recommendation, the text is not legally binding but sets a political direction. The European Commission is expected to monitor implementation and may propose further legislative or financial measures to support Member States. The European Parliament could also weigh in through own-initiative reports or resolutions. The next wildfire season will test whether the recommended measures are being adopted on the ground.