This marks the second time this summer that Portugal has activated the rescEU mechanism due to wildfires.
The European Commission (EC) has mobilized eight firefighting aircraft to assist Portugal in battling intense wildfires in the northern part of the country.
These aircraft are being deployed following Portugal’s activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (rescEU). The fleet includes two planes each from Spain, Italy, France, and Greece. The aircraft, part of the rescEU fleet and the European Civil Protection Reserve, are financially supported by the European Commission.
“Our swift response, with eight firefighting planes from four member states, highlights the strength of European cooperation in times of crisis. We are working tirelessly to ensure that necessary support reaches those on the front lines,” explained Janez Lenarčič, the European Commissioner for Crisis Management.
The EC’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC), which operates 24/7, has also sent a liaison officer to aid communication between Portuguese authorities and the EU.
