As Europe is fighting wildfires in several Member States, the Commission is swiftly mobilising assistance via the EU civil protection mechanism (UCPM). Over the weekend, Portugal and France have activated the UCPM due to devastating wildfires, with several of them active simultaneously and burning thousands of hectares.
France activated the UCPM on 5 July. The European Commission has mobilised four rescEU airplanes from Sweden and Cyprus, expected to arrive to the affected areas today. Portugal activated the mechanism on 3 July. 118 firefighters and 45 vehicles from Spain arrived on site a few hours after the activation and three rescEU firefighting aircrafts from Italy and Spain were deployed.
This year, the Commission has deployed a record number of firefighters to combat wildfires. 777 firefighters from 14 European countries are already, or soon will be, strategically pre-positioned in high-risk areas across Cyprus, Greece, Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal. In parallel, 22 firefighting airplanes and five helicopters from the EU fleet are ready to support countries under pressure.
Preparedness and Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib said: “As Portugal and France face an extreme wildfire threat during this severe heatwave, every minute matters. I am proud to see the EU civil protection mechanism once again delivering swift support when it is needed most. Firefighting aircraft, ground teams and vehicles from Sweden, Cyprus, Italy and Spain are already helping emergency crews on the ground. In the face of these devastating fires, Europe stands together. We are united in our determination to protect lives, communities, livelihoods and our natural environment.“
Through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, countries affected by wildfires can request operational assistance. The EU has also established rescEU, a strategic reserve of emergency capacities designed to provide additional support during large-scale crises.
Recognising the rising risks of wildfires with climate change, the Commission presented a new integrated approach to wildfire risk management in March 2026, which provides guidance on how to better prevent, prepare for, respond and recover from wildfires.
