Severe wildfires have been devastating the Western Balkans since July, and the European Commission assures that aid is on its way to those in need.
On Friday, the European Commission (EC) announced that the EU is continuing its support for countries in the Western Balkans and Greece, both of which are struggling to combat destructive wildfires.
The Commission clarified that wildfires continue to affect several European nations, prompting the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) to work around the clock, directing assistance from other EU member states to help extinguish the fires.
Currently, both Bulgaria and North Macedonia are receiving EU support after activating the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Bulgaria, which requested assistance on July 15, has been reinforced with 10 firefighting aircraft and two helicopters to support its domestic firefighting teams. Among these are two Canadair planes from the rescEU reserve in Spain, which are currently operating in the country.
North Macedonia, which sought help on July 30, has also received substantial support through the Civil Protection Mechanism. This includes three helicopters and six aircraft. At present, four backup planes from the rescEU reserves in Cyprus and Germany are deployed in North Macedonia, along with a helicopter from Slovenia, which will begin operations on Saturday, August 10.
Following a recent fire on the island of Crete, Greece is also benefiting from the EU’s emergency satellite mapping system, Copernicus, which provides real-time data to assist response teams on the ground.
The Commission emphasized that it is continuously monitoring the situation across Europe and is prepared to offer additional assistance to affected countries as needed. To strengthen preparedness for this year’s wildfire season, the EU has established the rescEU system and the European Civil Protection Reserve, which now includes 28 firefighting aircraft and four helicopters stationed across 10 member states. These resources are available to support firefighting efforts across the continent.
Additionally, more than 540 firefighters from 12 countries have been strategically positioned at key locations in Europe—namely in France, Greece, Portugal, and Spain—ready to assist local firefighting units in case of new wildfire outbreaks.
