This move marks a significant step in the EU’s efforts to strengthen its disaster response infrastructure.
Janez Lenarcic, European Commissioner for Crisis Management, emphasized the urgency of the initiative, stating, “As wildfire seasons become longer, more deadly, and unpredictable, we have been working tirelessly to bolster the EU’s firefighting response capacities.”
The production of this permanent fleet of amphibian firefighting planes follows an agreement between several EU member states and the Canadian Commercial Corporation. The planes will be stationed in Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain—countries frequently on the frontlines of Europe’s wildfire crises.
In addition to the EU’s fleet, member states are purchasing 10 more firefighting planes to enhance their national capabilities, further reinforcing the continent’s preparedness for future emergencies.
Lenarcic noted that the EU is on track with its timeline to establish this new permanent fleet of firefighting planes and helicopters, with the first aircraft expected to be delivered by the end of 2027. The fleet will become part of the “rescEU” initiative, a European reserve of firefighting planes and helicopters, with the first helicopters anticipated to be operational by 2026.
This ambitious project underscores the EU’s commitment to proactively addressing the escalating threat of wildfires, which have become a recurring challenge across the continent. As Europe braces for increasingly severe fire seasons, the new fleet is poised to play a crucial role in safeguarding lives and landscapes.
