Cyprus is to host a new European regional aerial firefighting station that will serve as a readiness hub for the entire southern Mediterranean, as the EU prepares what it describes as its largest-ever wildfire response operation ahead of a 2026 fire season forecast to bring above-normal temperatures and severe drought.
The Cyprus Regional Aerial Firefighting Station — known as CRAFS, or the Cyprus Hub — will host six Air Tractor aircraft: two light aircraft under the transitional phase of the rescEU reserve and four funded through other EU instruments.
Beyond aircraft deployment, the station will serve as a training and exercise venue for civil protection professionals, focused on knowledge and best-practice exchange.
The strategic plans were presented at a briefing at the European Commission Representation in Cyprus by Zacharias Giakoumis, Head of Unit at the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO).
Record operation for a dangerous season
Seasonal forecasts for June through September 2026 point to above-normal temperatures across the Mediterranean and Cyprus, alongside severe drought conditions — a combination that significantly raises the risk of wildfires breaking out and spreading rapidly.
Data from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) covering 2006 to 2026 show a clear upward trend in both the number of fires and burned area across the EU. For Cyprus specifically, EFFIS recorded an extreme spike in burned area at the end of 2025. Figures to April 30 this year show burned area and fire numbers running close to the historical average for 2006–2025, though vigilance remains at its highest level.
Cyprus has received assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism 12 times and provided assistance 17 times.
Against this backdrop, the EU has assembled its largest-ever wildfire response operation, built around three pillars:
- Aircraft: 22 firefighting aircraft and five helicopters from the EU fleet are on standby to support countries under pressure.
- Firefighters: 777 personnel from 14 European countries will be deployed strategically across Cyprus, Greece, Italy, France, Spain and Portugal — the highest participation level since the programme launched in 2022.
- Expert monitoring: A specialist team of 22 experts drawn from member states, the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) and the ARISTOTLE scientific consortium will be fully operational from June 15 to September 18, 2026. They will provide round-the-clock meteorological and scientific analysis, continuous EFFIS risk data, and satellite mapping and geospatial analysis through the Copernicus system.
How the EU mechanism works
The EU Civil Protection Mechanism activates when a country’s national capacities are overwhelmed and it requests operational assistance.
It draws on three successive layers of response: national capacities and spontaneous offers from member state authorities; the European Civil Protection Pool, which holds pre-committed resources including ground crews, aircraft, medical teams and specialist experts trained for rapid deployment; and rescEU, the EU’s fully funded strategic reserve of last resort, covering firefighting assets, field hospitals and evacuation capacity.
Funding and prevention
A new integrated risk management strategy presented in March 2026 frames wildfires as requiring a holistic response across prevention, preparedness, response and recovery, including sustainable land management and ecosystem restoration.
EU funding committed to this effort includes €2.3 billion through Cohesion Policy, €2.2 billion through the Recovery and Resilience Facility, and over €1 billion from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. Nearly €7 million was allocated in 2025 for 12 preparedness projects through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The overall effort encompasses 30 core actions and 33 additional measures targeting long-term risk reduction.
For Cyprus specifically, EU support includes a TSI-funded reform to strengthen civil protection capacity, the ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence for fire prediction, research programmes under Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe, LIFE+ co-funding for climate adaptation, and Recovery and Resilience Facility funding for firefighting vehicles, equipment and staff recruitment.
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