Inauguration of the new European firefighting hub in Cyprus

The European Commission has announced a new integrated risk management strategy to address the rising threat of wildfires across Europe. A central component of this strategy is the establishment of a European firefighting hub based at Paphos airport in Cyprus. The official inauguration of the facility is scheduled for April 23 and 24, coinciding with an informal summit held during the Cypriot presidency of the Council of the EU. European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib confirmed that the project is co-financed by the European Union and the Republic of Cyprus. While Cyprus is responsible for the physical infrastructure, the EU contributes via the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) to support training and the exchange of best practices. This initiative follows a proposal made by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during her State of the Union address last September. The hub is designed to position Cyprus as a regional center for civil protection and emergency response.