<h6><strong>Ane Barcos</strong></h6> <h4><strong>The European Union announced this Monday a summer forest fire response effort, deploying 650 firefighters from 14 countries to high-risk areas, including Spain, France, Greece, and Portugal. A fleet of 22 aircraft and four helicopters will also be mobilized, strategically positioned in 10 Member States, including Spain, to respond rapidly to emergencies.</strong></h4> During her visit to Madrid this Monday, European Commissioner for Crisis Preparedness and Management, Hadja Lahbib, confirmed that part of the firefighting contingent will be deployed to Spain and thanked the country for hosting these teams. "Thank you to Spain for hosting these teams," she stated. The firefighters will be operational during July and August, reinforcing national capabilities in the event of a fire. Spain will also host two Canadair aircraft from the rescEU mechanism this year, which are part of the European Strategic Reserve of Emergency Resources. These aircraft will be available for interventions both within Spain and in other EU countries that request them through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism. Looking to the future, the Commissioner announced that Spain will be the permanent base for two of the twelve new Canadair aircraft and one of the five helicopters that the EU is funding to strengthen its aerial firefighting capacity. According to the planned schedule, the helicopter will be operational in 2026, and the aircraft, starting in 2028. "Spain will be a key player in the new EU Preparedness Strategy, due to its experience and direct exposure to extreme events such as fires and floods. In many areas, you are on the front lines," Lahbib emphasized. This summer's European deployment also includes a network of 19 ground firefighting teams, each composed of around 30 personnel, and an advisory and assessment team, ready to be deployed as needed. All of this will be coordinated by the European Emergency Response Coordination Centre, operating 24/7, which analyzes scientific data, assesses risks, and facilitates the rapid mobilization of resources. During her speech, the Commissioner paid tribute to the firefighter who recently died in Barcelona and expressed her "deepest gratitude" for the extraordinary work these professionals do, "often at great personal risk." She also remembered the victims of the recent floods in Valencia and the April blackout, underscoring the magnitude of the risks facing today's societies. Lahbib praised Spain's solidarity in recent international situations, such as the evacuation of patients from Gaza or the dispatch of emergency teams to countries such as Portugal, Bulgaria, Guatemala, and Bolivia. "This is European solidarity in action," she stated. These actions are part of a broader EU approach to strengthening prevention, preparedness, and response to disasters exacerbated by climate change. According to Lahbib, the EU is building "a new culture of preparedness across our continent."
