Assessing the need for an EU fleet of firefighting aircraft under ‘rescEU’

3.9.2018

Question for written answer E-004471-18
to the Commission
Rule 130
Nadja Hirsch (ALDE)

In summer 2018, devastating forest fires raged in a number of Member States; and, in many instances, national civil protection authorities were overstretched.

The scale and frequency of forest fires demonstrate the need for stepped-up common European action in the area of civil protection, in particular as regards firefighting aircraft. In a communication as long ago as November 2017, the Commission presented its plans, designated ‘rescEU’, to expand EU civil protection arrangements.

In the light of the above:

• 1.To what extent have events in summer 2018 speeded up implementation of the ‘rescEU’ plans?
• 2.The communication makes reference to the establishment of European reserve capacities that can be drawn on under the EU Treaties. Is the Commission of the opinion that, in the light of the urgency of the situation, that could include a separate EU fleet of firefighting aircraft?
• 3.In the process of building up EU capacities, might a European ‘forest fire summit’ that also involved experts and fire ecologists be helpful?