Wildfire aid – a European U-turn

Europe is once again grappling with intense wildfires this summer, prompting the European Union to bolster its collective firefighting capabilities. The EU Commission announced plans to expand its joint fleet by ordering 18 new water-bombing planes to combat the escalating crisis.

Spain has declared a state of emergency in the Madrid area due to uncontrolled fires, while French authorities have ordered thousands of tourists to evacuate coastal areas. Satellite data indicates that the total land area burned across EU countries this year is the second-largest on record. In response to these devastating events, France's President Emmanuel Macron triggered the EU's civil protection mechanism, a formal request for assistance during natural disasters.

The response was swift, with neighboring countries pledging support. Macron announced on X that France would soon receive aid, including two Croatian Canadair planes, two Portuguese Air Tractors, and two heavy Black Hawk helicopters from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. This coordinated effort signifies a remarkable increase in cooperation compared to previous years.

Just a few years ago, during a severe fire season in Portugal in 2017, the EU's commissioner for crisis management, Christos Stylianides, recounted his struggles to secure aid from other member states. Many countries cited the risk of their own fires or a lack of available resources. Stylianides then initiated efforts to create a more solidary system for firefighting across the EU, focusing on mutual support rather than a centralized EU fire brigade. Despite initial lukewarm reception, including from Sweden, the subsequent fires in Swedish forests demonstrated the critical need for such a collaborative approach, with firefighters from eight countries eventually providing assistance.