In response to a 2025 season that set a historic record with more than one million hectares burned, the European Commission presented on 24 March an integrated approach to counter the intensification of wildfires, exacerbated by climate change. The objective is to shift from a reactive logic to a culture of prevention and resilience.
The strategy rests on four fundamental pillars:
Prevention
• Nature restoration to create more resilient landscapes.
• New guidelines on Natura 2000 to reconcile biodiversity conservation with wildfire risk management and climate change adaptation.
Response
• Procurement of 12 new firefighting aircraft and 5 helicopters.
• Establishment of a European firefighting platform in Cyprus (training centre and operational base).
• Development of the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) and increased use of artificial intelligence for risk modelling and decision support.
Preparedness
• Greater involvement of citizens and promotion of training on fire preparedness.
• Strategic pre-positioning of firefighters in high-risk areas and promotion of expert exchanges.
Recovery
• Commitment to better understanding and reducing long-term health risks for firefighters (exposure to toxic substances).
• Support for the restoration of affected areas to strengthen the future resilience of ecosystems.
The European Commission intends to present a proposal for a Council Recommendation on integrated wildfire risk management to sustain these efforts. Implementation will take place in close cooperation with Member States, regions and stakeholders, with regular reporting to the European Parliament and the Council.