(Commonwealth_Europe) The European Union envisions Cyprus as the focal point of a new regional firefighting hub, aiming to safeguard not only Europe but also its Middle Eastern neighbors from the escalating threat of wildfires.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the plan in her annual speech to the European Parliament, saying Europe must “give ourselves the tools” to fight fires that are only getting worse as the planet heats up. This summer alone, more than a million hectares of land went up in flames across the continent. “The scale of the damage is enormous,” she said. “And we know it is not a one-off.”
The idea of basing such a hub in Cyprus isn’t new. The island has been pushing for it since 2022, pointing to its location as the EU’s closest link to the Middle East. The vision is straightforward yet impactful: the island will host firefighting aircraft, poised to launch at any time, regardless of whether the emergency arises in Greece, Lebanon, Jordan, or Israel.
Cyprus’ President Nikos Christodoulides called the plan “hugely important,” saying it would strengthen the EU’s defenses and help its neighbors across the Mediterranean. His spokesman went further, describing it as a way of placing Cyprus at the center of a regional safety net in a time when disasters do not respect borders.
The urgency of the proposal was underscored this July, when Cyprus was hit by one of its worst wildfires in living memory. Flames tore through the southern foothills of the Troodos mountains, killing two elderly people who were unable to escape in their car. Entire villages were scarred, hundreds of homes destroyed, and more than 40 square miles of land reduced to ash. For many Cypriots, the fire was a painful reminder of how exposed their small island is to climate extremes.
Help did come. Jordan, Israel, Egypt, and Lebanon sent helicopters and planes, joining local crews in a desperate battle against the flames. But for Cyprus, the lesson was clear: the island needs more resources of its own. Environment Minister Maria Panayiotou has already launched plans to build a national fleet of water-carrying aircraft, starting with three new planes capable of dropping 3,000 liters each. The long-term goal is to have 10 aircraft strong enough to respond faster and more independently.
For Cyprus, the EU’s firefighting hub would mean more than just aircraft and equipment. The EU’s firefighting hub would acknowledge Cyprus’s pivotal role in the climate crisis, as a small nation that frequently experiences disasters but also frequently provides assistance to those in need
