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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed setting up a new European firefighting hub in Cyprus, a first-of-its-kind plan that could boost fire protection in the region, but so far, it’s long on promise and short on details.
The announcement, made during her State of the Union speech in Brussels, was warmly welcomed in Nicosia, especially after the deadly July 23 blaze in Limassol exposed Cyprus’ limited firefighting capacity. Cypriot officials hailed the idea, calling it a chance for the island to play a central role in regional civil protection.
But Brussels isn’t yet saying what exactly the hub would look like. A Commission spokesperson told Kathimerini's Pavlos Xanthoulis that the plan is still being worked out with EU member states. It remains unclear whether the hub would come with firefighting aircraft, like Canadair water bombers, and crews stationed permanently on the island, or if it would act more as a coordination center for regional emergencies.
“The president’s announcement sets the direction,” the spokesperson said, adding it’s too early to give a timetable or specifics. Any final decision would need approval from all 27 EU countries.
EU officials also stressed that von der Leyen’s proposal doesn’t replace Cyprus’ own responsibilities. Firefighting remains a national duty under EU treaties, meaning Nicosia must continue to invest in its own fleet and strategy, especially with more EU civil protection funds available from 2028.
Still, the potential of a European base in Cyprus, strategically located to help both the island and nearby countries, is seen as a major opportunity. Whether it ends up being a fleet of planes ready to douse flames or mainly a crisis-management office will depend on negotiations in the coming months.
For now, Brussels calls it “a very positive step.” The real test will be how Cyprus pushes the plan forward and how far Europe is willing to go in backing it up with resources.
