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Cyprus has already received two RescEU firefighting aircraft, which are now based at the new European Regional Firefighting Station. The facility is expected to be officially inaugurated later this year.
Speaking in Nicosia during a briefing on the European Union's preparations for the 2026 wildfire season, European Commission Directorate-General ECHO Communications Head Zacharias Iacoumis said the aircraft will be available for operations from June 15 through October 31.
The station is ultimately expected to accommodate six aircraft of the same model. One of them will be dedicated to training activities, while additional details about staffing and equipment will be announced when the facility is formally opened.
This year's EU wildfire preparedness plan includes 27 aerial assets, consisting of 22 aircraft and five helicopters. In addition, 787 firefighters from 14 countries will be deployed in advance across six countries to improve response times during the fire season. Cyprus is participating in the program for the first time and will host 15 European firefighters during the initial deployment period.
According to Iacoumis, the Cyprus facility will support regional cooperation, including partnerships with countries outside the European Union. Joint exercises and other operational programs are also planned to strengthen firefighting capabilities.
RescEU aircraft can be deployed through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism between June 15 and October 31. The European Commission covers the full cost of stationing the aircraft and personnel, along with transportation expenses when assistance is requested by a participating country.
The firefighter pre-deployment initiative began in 2022 with 236 personnel stationed in Greece. Five years later, the program has expanded to 787 firefighters representing 14 countries. Beyond those personnel, 19 ground firefighting teams and one expert assessment team remain on standby for deployment during major wildfire emergencies.
Since its creation in 2001, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated more than 830 times in Europe and elsewhere. Around 170 of those activations were related to wildfires. Cyprus has requested assistance through the mechanism 12 times, including seven wildfire-related activations between 2016 and 2025. During the same period, Cyprus provided assistance to other countries 15 times, primarily in response to fires.
Looking at recent wildfire trends, 2025 recorded the largest burned area in the European Union over the past two decades, with roughly one million hectares affected, particularly across the Iberian Peninsula. Cyprus also experienced its most severe recent fire season, with approximately 13,000 hectares burned.
Preliminary figures for 2026 through the end of April remain close to long-term averages. Forecasts for the Mediterranean and southern Europe, however, indicate above-average temperatures during July, August, and September, conditions that could increase wildfire risk.
The European Union continues to invest in prevention and preparedness efforts in addition to emergency response. About €4.5 billion has been allocated for wildfire prevention and readiness projects during the 2021-2027 funding period, with Cyprus among the beneficiaries.
