Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002873/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Aldo Patriciello (PfE)
In recent years, according to the European Forest Fire Information System, more than 500 000 hectares of natural area have been destroyed by forest fires in the EU, with Italy, Spain, Greece and Portugal among the most affected countries.
The EU promotes initiatives such as the exchange of good practices and the Civil Protection Mechanism, but these instruments are insufficient and fragmented, and do not have any structural impact on the most vulnerable territories.
In particular, volunteer firefighters, who are key to managing forest fires, suffer from lack of training, recognition and job stability, limiting their ability to work effectively and safely.
In the light of this:
- 1.Will the Commission fund training courses and specific programmes to offer stable conditions to volunteer firefighters and professionally integrate them into the Member States’ national bodies?
- 2.Will it allocate dedicated resources for the training, support and stable employment of volunteer firefighters, especially in the countries most affected by forest fires?
Submitted: 15.7.2025