BRUSSELS

As wildfires continue to burn across parts of Europe and a severe heat wave grips the continent, European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib said on Wednesday that the EU is better prepared to respond to such disasters.

Speaking during a plenary session in Strasbourg on the bloc's preparedness for the upcoming wildfire and drought season, Lahbib warned that climate change is no longer "a distant warning but a direct consequence" now visibly impacting European citizens.

"In just the past 10 days, thousands of hectares have burned in France, Greece, Germany, Spain, Albania, Serbia and Türkiye," she said. "We are witnessing the destruction of ecosystems that will take years, even decades, to recover."

Lahbib stressed that the EU has significantly ramped up its response capacity. "The EU is better prepared ... our teams are on standby 24/7."

She said the EU has deployed 22 firefighting planes and four helicopters stationed across 10 countries, pre-positioned to respond rapidly to high-risk areas, highlighting the use of drones, artificial intelligence, and real-time monitoring systems to detect wildfires early and support national firefighting efforts.

Representing the European Council, Danish European Affairs Minister Marie Bjerre also acknowledged the urgent threat, saying that Europe is experiencing "the fastest rate of heating globally."

She underlined the importance of preparedness, resilience, and the green transition to ensure long-term climate security. "Once again, this summer, we are expecting large wildfires and long drought in various parts of our continent. These events are becoming more and more frequent and more extreme."

Many parts of Europe face record temperatures and wildfires. June 2025 was the world's third-hottest on record, with Western Europe seeing its hottest June ever, according to the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service.