The Commission is financing the purchase of new firefighting planes to increase the aerial firefighting capacity of rescEU, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism’s strategic crisis response reserve. €600 million in EU funds will be used to purchase 12 new planes, which will be hosted across 6 EU Member States: Croatia, France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, and […]
The EU-backed FIRE-RES project is joining the battle against Europe’s forest fires with its new platform and app.
Wildfires are becoming a major threat worldwide. In Europe alone, they are responsible for around 85 % of annual burned areas. To help address this problem, the EU-funded FIRE-RES project is developing an integrated fire management strategy that will focus on fire prevention and preparedness, detection and response, and restoration and adaptation. As part of […]
Forest fires in Greece: EU mobilises firefighting assistance
Greece is currently facing a very intense wildfire season as the country faces the longest heatwave in its recorded history. The EU civil protection mechanism is channelling support to help combat forest fires. Following a request from the Greek authorities, the European Union and its member states have mobilised: planes from the #rescEU fleet based in […]
EU support to member states to fight forest fires
The Council adopted its position on a draft law that extends the deadline that will allow the Commission to provide financing of firefighting planes and helicopters to support member states in fighting forest fires. rescEU In 2019, rescEU was created as a reserve of European civil protection capacities which would step in to help member […]
EU doubles rescEU firefighting fleet for summer 2023
Following up on President von der Leyen’s State of the Union speech in September last year, Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič announced today the doubling of the rescEU aerial firefighting fleet for this year’s wildfire season while speaking at the 10th anniversary of the EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre. rescEU firefighting fleet for 2023 […]
EU solidarity with Slovenia in combating wildfires
20 June, Slovenia requested assistance to tackle unprecedented forest fires in the Karst of Gorica region of the Miren Kostanjevica municipality. Various firefighting assets have been already deployed or are on their way to help the local responders. The EU Civil Protection Mechanism is providing Slovenia with 3 firefighting helicopters, (one from Austria, one from […]
Forest fires: EU mobilises its firefighting fleet to help Portugal
Portugal has activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to request emergency assistance for the current wildfires in the central part of the country. In an immediate response, the European Commission has mobilised this morning 2 Canadair firefighting airplanes from its rescEU fleet positioned in Spain. The planes are supporting Portuguese first responders in the affected […]
Forest fires: European Commission puts its firefighting fleet in place for the 2022 season
As of today, the EU’s fleet of firefighting aircraft will be operational to help European countries fight forest fires throughout peak season. The fleet is part of rescEU, a European reserve of resources that responds to emergencies. Positioned in Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Spain and Sweden, 12 firefighting airplanes and 1 firefighting helicopter will be […]
European aircraft fleet for the 2021 forest fire season
To be prepared for any large-scale wild fires this season, the European Commission has set up a European fleet* of 11 firefighting planes and 6 helicopters hosted across Member States under the rescEU system. The Commission also issued guidelines to Member States to strengthen their fire prevention measures. Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič said: […]