Brussels, June 3, 2026 – The Europe Today: The European Commission has announced the deployment of a record number of firefighters, aircraft, and emergency response experts across Europe as part of efforts to strengthen preparedness for an increasingly severe wildfire season.
Under the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, a total of 777 firefighters from 14 European countries will be strategically pre-positioned in high-risk areas of Cyprus, Greece, Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal. The deployment marks the highest level of participation since the pre-positioning programme was launched in 2022.
In addition to ground personnel, 22 firefighting aircraft and five helicopters from the EU’s shared emergency response fleet have been placed on standby to assist countries facing major wildfire outbreaks.
The European Commission noted that wildfire seasons across the continent are becoming longer, starting earlier and causing greater destruction due to changing climate conditions. To address these challenges, the bloc is expanding its capacity to provide rapid support to national emergency services when risks are at their highest.
Throughout the wildfire season, experts at the EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre will monitor developments around the clock, using meteorological data and scientific analysis to assess risks and coordinate deployments. The centre will also be reinforced by additional wildfire specialists from EU member states and participating countries, alongside experts working through the Commission’s partnerships with scientific institutions.
As part of its long-term strategy to enhance regional resilience, the European Union announced plans to establish a new European regional firefighting station in Cyprus in 2026. The facility is expected to strengthen wildfire preparedness and emergency response capabilities across Europe and the South Mediterranean region.
EU officials said the enhanced measures reflect the bloc’s commitment to improving collective disaster response and safeguarding communities increasingly threatened by extreme wildfire events.
