EU Calls for a New Wildfire Strategy as Climate Risks Intensify

The European Union is calling for a fundamental shift in how Europe prepares for wildfires, as increasingly severe heat and drought drive larger, faster-spreading blazes across the continent. The call comes as France and Spain face deadly wildfires that have forced unprecedented evacuations, highlighting growing pressure on Europe’s emergency response systems.

EU Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib said climate change is accelerating and that wildfire preparedness must evolve just as quickly. Rather than focusing solely on expanding firefighting equipment, she urged governments to invest more in forest management, prevention measures, and public education. Around 90% of wildfires are linked to human activity, including campfires and discarded cigarettes, making risk awareness a critical part of prevention.

While wildfire management remains primarily the responsibility of individual EU countries, Brussels coordinates emergency support through its RescEU reserve. As of Tuesday, the EU had deployed seven firefighting aircraft and four helicopters to France, alongside six aircraft and three ground firefighting teams to Spain.

The scale of the threat is already stretching existing capacity. The EU stationed more than 770 firefighters across high-risk countries ahead of the summer season—the highest number on record—and officials warn that fires could continue into November.

Funding is also emerging as a key issue. The European Commission has proposed more than doubling crisis-response funding to €10.7 billion under the next EU budget, although member states have proposed a lower figure of €9.1 billion.

Meanwhile, the EU is building longer-term capacity, with 12 Canadair firefighting aircraft and five helicopters scheduled for delivery between 2027 and 2030.

The shift reflects a broader recognition that Europe’s wildfire challenge increasingly demands prevention, forest resilience, public preparedness, and stronger cross-border response capacity—not simply more firefighting resources.