Key facts
- Wildfires in France and Spain have led to tens of thousands of evacuations.
- EU Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib called for an evolved wildfire response to match accelerating climate change.
- Lahbib stressed the need for increased funding, forest management, and public education on fire risks.
- The EU coordinates emergency aid and operates a reserve fleet of firefighting aircraft.
- The EU plans to double crisis-response funding in the next budget, though member states have proposed a lower figure.
The European Union's response to wildfires must adapt to accelerating climate change, according to EU Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib. As France and Spain grapple with deadly blazes that have forced tens of thousands to evacuate, Lahbib emphasized that preparedness must precede disaster.
Lahbib stated that simply acquiring more firefighting equipment is insufficient. She urged member states to allocate more EU funding towards forest management practices that mitigate wildfire risks and to educate citizens on behaviors that can prevent fires, noting that approximately 90% of wildfires are human-caused.
The EU's role in wildfire management is limited, with national governments holding primary responsibility. Brussels facilitates the coordination and deployment of pooled resources from European countries when requested. The bloc also operates its own 'RescEU' reserve fleet of 22 firefighting aircraft and five helicopters.
This summer, the EU deployed a record number of firefighters, over 770, across at-risk nations, reflecting the intensifying heat and drought linked to climate change. EU officials anticipate fires may continue burning into November.
Lahbib indicated a need to strengthen collective capacity, proposing to more than double crisis-response funding in the next EU budget to €10.7 billion. However, EU countries negotiating the budget have proposed a compromise of €9.1 billion. Additionally, the EU is in the process of purchasing its own permanent firefighting fleet, with 12 Canadair planes and five helicopters scheduled for delivery between 2027 and 2030.