Today, our European continent faces record heat, prolonged drought, and devastating wildfires. In just the past ten days, thousands of hectares have burned in Greece, France, Germany, and Turkey. We are witnessing the destruction of ecosystems that will take years, even decades, to recover. Our citizens are feeling the impact of this extreme weather on their homes, health, and livelihoods.
These are not distant warnings. They are the direct consequences of climate change, sending us a clear message.
According to the latest Eurobarometer on Climate Change, nearly 4 out of 10 Europeans feel personally exposed to environmental and climate risks. Over 8 out of 10 people believe that better preparation for climate impacts would improve daily life.
We must listen to them.
We cannot look the other way. The heatwave many of us experienced just ten days ago is a stark reminder: the climate is changing right before our eyes. Droughts and wildfires are closely connected; dry conditions make fires more likely and far more dangerous.
All signs point to a difficult wildfire season this year. Many regions are already facing severe drought. Wildfire activity has been above average since the start of the year, and extreme heat is forecast across most of Europe and beyond this summer.
But now the EU is better prepared. This year, the European Union is once again ready to support Member States and any country that requests our help. Our teams are on standby 24/7.
While national authorities lead the wildfire response, we are working side by side with them every step of the way.
The EU can step in even before wildfires start. We are using science and technology to monitor droughts and detect fires early. This includes using drones and Artificial Intelligence to detect and respond to fires. Our systems send real-time alerts across Europe.
Our Copernicus satellite system provides free, high-resolution maps of fire-affected areas and their surroundings, which Member States are using. Recently, Greece requested Copernicus imagery to monitor wildfires on Chios Island and earlier this month in Crete.
In past years, we have seen moments when Member States simply could not help each other because they were all facing high wildfire risks simultaneously. In 2017, Europe experienced its worst wildfire season in history, with more than 130 lives lost and around one million hectares burned.
That was a turning point.
The EU responded by strengthening the Union Civil Protection Mechanism and creating rescEU, our strategic reserve of firefighting planes and helicopters, to ensure that no Member State is ever left alone to face devastating wildfires.
This summer, we have 22 firefighting planes and 4 helicopters ready to respond. They are stationed in ten countries, strategically positioned to cover the highest-risk areas.
In May, I visited the Torrejón Air Base in Spain, which hosts several Spanish and rescEU Canadairs. I was deeply impressed by the professionalism and dedication of the air crews, working under extremely tough conditions, both in the air and at sea.
And it is not just in the skies. On the ground, twenty firefighting teams from across Europe are ready to step in wherever they are needed. Between July and September, we have also strategically pre-positioned around 650 firefighters from 14 countries in wildfire-prone areas, including Greece, Portugal, Spain, and France this summer. We started this pre-positioning as a pilot in 2022, with 236 firefighters from 6 countries. We are now at 650.
Next week, I will visit the Czech team stationed in Greece this summer. Their presence on the ground means faster response times. It also creates opportunities for learning and cooperation between teams from across Europe to build trust among them.
EU firefighters are already on the ground, battling the flames side by side, thanks to the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. In Greece, Bulgarian firefighters have joined Greek teams in Halkidiki. In France, Romanian crews have supported local responders near Perpignan. This is Europe in action. This is solidarity in action.
At the same time, we are bringing together Europes top wildfire experts at the ERCC to help forecast risks, support planning, and monitor the situation in real time. Of course, the best way to fight wildfires - and to manage prolonged drought - is to stay ahead of them, to anticipate and to prevent them from spiraling out of control.
We also need to speed up our efforts to address the root causes of wildfires: climate change, drought, forest degradation, and biodiversity loss. All of these make wildfires more frequent, more intense, and harder to stop. Prevention is already a core part of our Common Agricultural Policy, and next year we will present an ambitious EU climate adaptation plan.
As highlighted in the recent report from the European Court of Auditors, more and more Member States are turning to EU funds to invest in prevention. That is a step in the right direction. Between 2021 and 2027, €18.8 billion are planned for investment in climate adaptation and risk management under Cohesion Policy, including €3.3 billion dedicated to forestry alone.
This is exactly the kind of proactive, comprehensive, and joined-up approach that the Preparedness Union Strategy calls for. It is how we build resilience before disaster strikes. But lets be clear - preparedness needs resources. We need bold, sustained investment in prevention and preparedness.
I also do not forget recovery. Recovery is essential, not just to rebuild, but to give hope and support to those affected by disaster. The EU Solidarity Fund is a vital tool to ensure that when crisis strikes, no country is left to face it alone. That is why I count on your support to uphold a strong level of ambition in the upcoming MFF negotiations.
This is not about political bargaining. It is about solidarity - the very soul of our European Union.