MEP Dolors Montserrat (PPE) has called on the European Commission to swiftly activate EU financial and solidarity instruments to support recovery from the wildfire that broke out on 3 July 2026 in the Gavarres massif in Girona, Spain. The fire has burned over 2,300 hectares of high forest and environmental value, forcing thousands to stay indoors, evacuating residential areas, and requiring a large emergency operation. Montserrat's parliamentary question, submitted on 6 July 2026, seeks concrete commitments from the Commission to aid economic, social, and environmental recovery, including forest restoration and infrastructure rebuilding.
The question asks the Commission to identify which financial instruments could be mobilised for the affected areas, and whether it has contacted Spanish or Catalan authorities to assess damage and explore activating EU support mechanisms, such as the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF), if eligibility criteria are met. The MEP's initiative reflects growing concern over extreme wildfires in southern Europe and the need for rapid EU solidarity. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks, and its answer will signal the EU's readiness to deploy resources for climate-related disasters.
affected residents and local communities in Girona, who face displacement and economic loss; Spanish and Catalan authorities, which would coordinate recovery and access EU funds; EU taxpayers, who finance solidarity instruments; and environmental and forestry sectors, which would benefit from restoration efforts. The policy orientation leans toward strengthening EU crisis response mechanisms and ensuring that climate adaptation funding reaches disaster-hit regions quickly.