Source: European Parliament
1. The primary responsibility for disaster risk management lies with Member State authorities. The Commission’s main role is to coordinate a response through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM)[1] when activated. The Commission also supports national efforts with financial support such as under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)[2] or the forest fire prevention and restoration measures under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development[3].
2. The Commission supports local and regional authorities in implementing effective prevention strategies through funding from the ERDF in technologies for early detection and monitoring of fires, as well as critical infrastructure to enhance resilience against fire hazards. In Sicily the ERDF Regional Programme 2021-2027 allocates around EUR 204 million of EU resources to investments related to environmental risks[4].
3. The Commission has established a fleet of planes and helicopters under rescEU[5] in 2019. The Commission is also working on creating a permanent wildfire fleet, comprising new aircraft[6] dedicated to EU-coordinated response operations.
One of the key activities for institutional capacity development is the UCPM peer review programme[7]. After the 2023 wildfire season, the Italian Civil Protection Department requested a peer review of its wildfire risk management system[8].
Finally, the Commission has established the Expert Group on Forest Fires, which allows for the exchange of good practices among the fire management services of the EU countries and its neighbours. Through the Copernicus European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), the Commission also provides most advance technology for the assessment of fire danger and real time monitoring of wildfires.
- [1] https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/what/civil-protection/eu-civil-protection-mechanism_en
- [2] https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/funding/erdf_en
- [3] https://commission.europa.eu/funding-tenders/find-funding/eu-funding-programmes/european-agricultural-fund-rural-development-eafrd_en
- [4] Of which EUR 55 million are estimated to be invested on risk prevention and management measures related to fires.
- [5] https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/what/civil-protection/resceu_en
- [6] Planned to become gradually operational as of end 2027.
- [7] https://civil-protection-knowledge-network.europa.eu/disaster-prevention-and-risk-management/ucpm-peer-review-programme
- [8] The report is planned to be finalised before end of 2024 and will highlight good practices and provide recommendations.