EU deployed its biggest wildfire response. Is it what Europe needs?

Published on

05/08/2026 - 8:30 GMT+2

Europe is burning again, exposing the limits of the EU's emergency response system. Although firefighting capacity has grown, progress on reducing wildfire risk by making landscapes less flammable has been slower.

EU countries like Portugal and France activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. France received four rescEU planes from Sweden and Cyprus, while Portugal was reinforced with 118 firefighters and 45 vehicles from Spain, plus three rescEU aircraft from Italy and Spain.

“We have regular wake-up calls, but this one is the biggest since couple of years" said Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib, adding that "Europe stands together."