The effort by the Republic of Cyprus to create a firefighting aircraft base in Cyprus began in 2019, as part of the European civil protection mechanism, rescEU. Despite political will, this endeavour faced significant obstacles, primarily due to what are described as strange reactions from technocrats. Even today, the situation is not entirely clear, despite a recent proposal by the President of the European Commission, which was welcomed with broad smiles in Nicosia.
Archived documents and official sources reveal that the initial failure to establish a permanent European base in Cyprus stemmed from a disagreement over the type of aircraft to be stationed there. The European Commission proposed the installation of amphibious Canadair aircraft, considering them the most suitable for the needs of the Mediterranean region. In contrast, the Cyprus Department of Forests advocated for lighter and more versatile Air Tractor aircraft, believing they were better suited to the island’s geomorphology and specific characteristics.
This disagreement, as shown in the official minutes of meetings in Brussels in 2019 and 2020, led to the collapse of the first attempt to create a base. Although in 2020 Cyprus managed to secure two Air Tractor aircraft through rescEU, the request for a permanent base with Canadairs was rejected.
The data presented indicated that the cost of acquiring two Canadairs exceeded €40 million, while four Air Tractors would be significantly more economical, costing approximately €10 million. Furthermore, the Department of Forests’ position was based on arguments concerning the equal treatment of Mediterranean countries, the country’s strategic geographical location, and the need for a mixed fleet of aircraft to maximise the effectiveness of aerial firefighting. However, Brussels insisted on the exclusive use of Canadairs for bases in Southern Europe and rejected any request that did not align with this choice, even when the Republic of Cyprus requested to host a base with two Canadairs.
This stalemate was seemingly overcome—in theory—after the proposal by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on 10 September 2025, to create a European base in Cyprus. The question that arises is whether the differences that shaped events before 2021 have been resolved, or if the new proposal signals a change in direction from the European Union and/or the Republic of Cyprus.
Key meetings in Brussels in 2019 and 2020
In 2019, the European Union added layer to the European Civil Protection Mechanism: rescEU, which aims to create a European aerial firefighting fleet to combat forest fires within the EU.
On 2-3 October 2019 and 22-24 January 2020, the second and third meetings, respectively, of the rescEU/Aerial Forest Firefighting task team were held in Brussels, with the participation of member states and experts. Cyprus was not represented at the first meeting of the rescEU Aerial Forest Firefighting task team.
Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus, from the Department of Forests, submitted a request to create a base for aerial firefighting assets in Cyprus. The Cypriot mission proposed establishing a base with 2 modules of light-type Air Tractor aircraft, with a total capacity of 12,000 litres of water (4 aircraft).
Cyprus’s geographical location enhances its strategic importance, as it can serve missions to both member states (such as Greece and Italy) and neighbouring third countries. It is noted that Cyprus has already sent aerial assets to Israel, Lebanon, and Greece over the past five years.
Furthermore, it was mentioned that the installation of Air Tractors in Cyprus could be implemented well before 2025, the point in time when the first Canadairs are expected to be delivered by the company VIKING, giving the programme the possibility of early operational activation.
Although Cyprus’s proposal was initially met with caution, thanks to the well-documented arguments and the steadfast stance of its representatives, it was recorded as a possibility on the EU map, with Cyprus appearing as a potential base, albeit with a question mark.
The EU clarified that the final decision on Cyprus’s inclusion is a political one, as the initial plan exclusively places bases in Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Greece, and Croatia—countries with existing infrastructure and experience in using Canadairs.
The Department of Forests’ Letter to the Civil Defence
As part of the efforts to strengthen the Cypriot proposal, the Department of Forests sent an official letter to the Civil Defence on 9 October 2019, which represents the Republic of Cyprus on the EU’s Civil Protection Committee (CPC). The letter outlined the following:
• The key arguments in favour of creating a base in Cyprus.
• The need for strong support for the proposal at the upcoming CPC meeting on 23 October 2019.
• The importance of political support at the ministerial and parliamentary levels.
• The necessity of coordination between the Department of Forests and the Civil Defence.
As noted by the relevant services, the establishment of a rescEU unit in Cyprus is not only about strengthening national operational capabilities but also about our country’s contribution to the pan-European civil protection strategy, giving Cyprus a pillar role for the southeastern Mediterranean.
The Path to the Announcement
The announcement by the President of the European Commission about the EU’s intention to establish a European Firefighting Centre based in Cyprus on 10 September 2025 did not come out of nowhere. It was the result of a coordinated effort that began in 2023 by the current government, following on from the efforts of the previous government from 2021. Cyprus had attempted to join the rescEU programme, which provides for the installation and co-financing of European aerial assets at strategic points. However, its request was repeatedly rejected, with the justification (according to the relevant state services) that its geographical location was considered too remote for an immediate response to requests from other member states.
Despite the initial rejections, the Cypriot government did not give up. On 25 July 2023, Cyprus, together with Jordan, submitted a joint letter to the European Commission for the creation of a regional base for aerial firefighting assets in Cyprus. Although initially rejected due to a lack of funds, the proposal was once again brought to the forefront. In October 2024, at the MED9 Summit in Paphos, President Christodoulides presented the proposal jointly with the King of Jordan directly to Ursula von der Leyen. This was followed by two letters from the Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2025, in March and on 4 August.
During the summer of 2025, Nicosia submitted a comprehensive proposal with technical and operational details, highlighting Cyprus’s strategic role as the EU’s bridge to the Eastern Mediterranean. At the same time, the Republic of Cyprus, taking advantage of the transitional phase of the rescEU transition 2025 programme, secured the inclusion of two Air Tractor firefighting aircraft, which are already stationed in Cyprus and have been operating from 15 June to 31 October 2025. Funding covers 75% of the eligible costs. These aircraft operate in conjunction with assets from Jordan, as well as helicopters from the British Bases.