Many Europeans are rightly traveling to beautiful Greece for their holidays. I am here for a different reason. Today, Europe is the fastest-warming continent in the world. Wildfires are becoming more frequent, more intense, and they last longer.

Europe takes this threat seriously, and I know Greece does too. Today, we discussed how Greece and the EU can collaborate to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the increasing risk of wildfires.

Greece is a beacon of European solidarity in civil protection. I want to personally thank you for that.

Thanks to countries like Greece, our Union Civil Protection Mechanism has become a powerful shield for our citizens. Through this Mechanism, Greece has offered assistance many more times than it has asked for it. In just the last two weeks, Greece has responded to three requests for assistance – once for Albania and twice for North Macedonia.

This solidarity works both ways – the EU also stands with Greece in times of need. Since 2017, Greece has requested assistance to fight wildfires nine times. This includes fighting the largest fire ever recorded in Europe, in Alexandroupolis, in August 2023. This summer, the EU continues to stand ready to support Greece.

22 firefighting planes and four helicopters – hosted by 10 EU countries – are on standby through the Civil Protection Mechanism, including 4 planes from Greece. Our Emergency Response Coordination Centre in Brussels is ready 24/7, providing real-time support and works closely with Greeces national coordination centre, which I will visit shortly.

Greece will soon host two new Canadairs as part of the EUs permanent rescEU firefighting fleet, with the first deliveries expected by 2028. Greece also hosts firefighters from around the EU, ready to act fast when a fire breaks out.

Greece also welcomes 350 firefighters from six countries to support your fire service, and tomorrow I will meet the Czechs stationed here in Greece.

You also send nearly 30 firefighters to Corsica, France, in September – a great example of cross-border solidarity. By the way, this idea of prepositioning came from Greece, and it aligns perfectly with our new proactive approach to emergencies – acting before disasters happen. This saves lives.

The EU is preparing for anything, anywhere, anytime. We are working hard to anticipate risks and prepare for them – like wildfires in Greece, earthquakes in Italy, or hybrid attacks in Sweden. In March, we launched our Preparedness Strategy, the EUs first comprehensive approach to preparedness, and we support Greeces efforts to strengthen its national preparedness.

Just yesterday I tabled a new legislative proposal. The goal is to better anticipate, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. We are proposing to adapt our civil protection rules to respond better to complex crises, with domino effects across sectors, such as transport, energy, and communications.

In addition, we will be able to financially support our preparedness and response to all risks, including health threats like pandemics.

I look forward to the rest of my visit and to seeing firsthand how Greece is strengthening its preparedness, such as the Elefsina Airbase and the Canadairs for instance. Tomorrow, I will witness the 100 new firefighting vehicles partly funded by the EU.

Thank you again for Greeces strong leadership. Greece and the EU – ready together, safer together.