Brussels – France, even more so Greece, and then Belgium again. Heat and drought, as well as the resulting wildfires, continue to grip the European Union. The last twenty-four hours have seen what is probably the most serious emergency yet, with two fatalities from the fires on the Greek island of Salamis and the largest fire ever to have affected Belgium, in the Hautes Fagnes nature reserve on the border with Germany.
The European Union, through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, has mobilised three helicopters (one provided by the Czech Republic and two by the Netherlands) plus two Canadair aircraft (provided by Sweden). A demonstration of “unwavering European solidarity,” the Commissioner for Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, stresses, but also evidence of a struggling Europe. Because “while Sweden and the Netherlands are supporting Belgium in tackling a massive wildfire, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has also been activated for Spain,” the Commissioner notes. “Firefighting teams from France are on their way to help bring the fire in Aragon under control.”
The summer of 2026 is “an intense fire season” for the EU, the Commissioner for Crisis Management acknowledges, mourning the death of an elderly couple on the Greek island of Salamis, where around 600 people have been evacuated due to the flames that have left ten people injured, notes the Greek Minister for Health, Adonis Georgiadis.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has assured that the EU is on high alert and that “with its Emergency Centre, Europe is closely monitoring the fires across the continent.” In particular, she said, “our Copernicus satellite system is already supporting mapping operations in Spain, Greece, France, Germany, Albania and Serbia.”
Indeed, the wildfire season extends beyond the borders of the European Union and also threatens non-EU countries. “The pressure is mounting in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia,” von der Leyen warns. It is the EU that is struggling to get through this summer and is hoping for rain, which is more precious than ever given the situation.
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
