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The European Commission is proposing the creation of a new European firefighting center in Cyprus, aiming to boost the continent’s ability to respond to increasingly severe wildfires, officials said Tuesday.
The announcement came during President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen’s first State of the Union speech. She highlighted the growing threat of wildfires, citing this summer’s devastation when over a million hectares of forests and villages across Europe were burned, roughly a third the size of Belgium.
“Climate change is making every summer hotter, harsher, and more dangerous,” von der Leyen said. “We must step up our efforts for climate resilience, adaptation, and nature-based solutions. But we must also acquire the tools to respond.”
The proposed firefighting center would not only serve Cyprus but could also provide support to neighboring countries in the region, building on the EU’s existing Civil Protection Mechanism.
Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides welcomed the proposal, posting on social media: “Together, proudly Europeans! Dear Ursula, thank you for the extremely important announcement regarding the creation of a European firefighting center based in Cyprus, which will cover our region. Together we are stronger!”
