The European Union is taking a significant step to bolster its firefighting capabilities in preparation for the upcoming fire season. The European Commission announced a €600 million investment to purchase new firefighting aircraft for rescEU, the bloc's civil protection mechanism's strategic reserve.
This financial injection will see the addition of 12 new firefighting planes to the rescEU fleet. These aerial assets will be strategically distributed across six member states – Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain – particularly vulnerable to wildfires. The specific locations for basing these aircraft will likely be chosen based on factors like proximity to high-risk areas and response times to potential fires.
The announcement comes amidst growing concerns about the increasing intensity and frequency of wildfires across Europe. Several European countries, including Portugal, Greece, and Spain, have grappled with devastating wildfires in recent years, which have caused significant environmental and economic damage. The enhanced firefighting capacity provided by the new aircraft is intended to bolster the response to these large-scale wildfires.
The new firefighting planes will complement the existing fleet of firefighting resources maintained by rescEU, which includes firefighting helicopters and rescEU reserves of rescEU medical capacities, civil protection modules, and other strategic equipment. The rescEU reserve is a critical component of the EU's Civil Protection Mechanism, which facilitates cooperation between member states during emergencies.
The European Commission will cover the entire €600 million cost of acquiring the new firefighting aircraft. This investment reflects the EU's commitment to prioritizing preparedness and collective action in the face of escalating natural disasters. The new fleet will not only strengthen the response capabilities of individual member states but will also foster a more coordinated European approach to tackling wildfires.
While the specific types of firefighting aircraft have not yet been disclosed, it is likely that the EU will opt for versatile planes capable of carrying and dropping large quantities of water or fire retardant. These specialized aircraft can be a game-changer in combating wildfires, particularly in situations where difficult terrain limits the effectiveness of ground crews.
The acquisition of these new firefighting aircraft represents a significant milestone in the EU's efforts to strengthen its civil protection capabilities. The bolstered aerial firefighting capacity will serve as a crucial asset in safeguarding lives, property, and ecosystems across Europe's fire-prone regions.