limassol wildfire — Cyprus MEPs voiced their frustration in the European Parliament on Tuesday, feeling abandoned by the EU following the Limassol wildfire that claimed two lives in July. Addressing fellow lawmakers in Strasbourg, they urged stronger EU support to combat wildfires across the continent.
Limassol wildfire: Urgent Plea for Action
Akel’s Giorgos Georgiou was the first to speak, expressing disappointment in the European Commission’s response to the crisis. He critiqued the speech by European Commissioner for Crisis Management Hadjia Lahbib, highlighting her use of the words ‘shall’ and ‘must’ while failing to deliver tangible support.
Georgiou remarked, “Cyprus unfortunately holds the lead, in a negative way, for the proportion of its total territory burned in the last decade, at 104 square kilometres. We did not see your solidarity.” He noted that despite requests for two firefighting planes from Spain, they had yet to arrive three months after the disaster.
Criticism of EU’s Austerity Policies
While acknowledging the Cypriot government’s responsibility for the wildfire damages, Georgiou argued that the EU must also share the blame. He stated, “Since 2016, we, the Left group, have been calling for a European air firefighting base to be established in Cyprus. You are outrageously ignoring us.” He condemned the EU’s reliance on blaming climate change rather than addressing systemic issues within its policies.
Proposals for Enhanced Firefighting Mechanisms
Elam’s Geadis Geadi echoed concerns regarding the EU’s existing firefighting framework, rescEU, which he claimed left member states vulnerable to wildfires. He proposed creating a robust pan-European fire brigade and establishing a cooperative mechanism among member states to better respond to such emergencies. Additionally, he suggested implementing stricter penalties for arsonists and increasing European funding for wildfire victims.
When questioned by French MEP Gregory Allione about how to improve rescEU while deeming it ineffective, Geadi responded, “I saw the shortcomings, I saw there are huge gaps.” His insights came from firsthand experience at the Limassol fire site.
A Call for Timely Assistance
Independent MEP Fidias Panayiotou was particularly vocal about the inadequacy of EU support, stating, “The European Union did almost nothing to help us.” He emphasised Cyprus’s geographical distance from mainland Europe, which hampers timely assistance during crises. “With this wildfire, we actually received more help from third countries like Jordan, Egypt, Israel, and Lebanon than from the EU countries. This is not a good look for the European Union, and us Cypriots feel abandoned,” he lamented.
Panayiotou expressed gratitude for the help received but insisted that it fell short of what was necessary in the wake of such devastation. “You were not in Cyprus when we needed you the most, and this needs to change,” he urged.
Desire for Proactive Measures
Finally, Disy’s Michalis Hadjipantela wrapped up the discussion by stressing the pressing need for action against climate change. He stated, “The European Union cannot consider that it has done its duty with a few words of sympathy. We do not need sympathy, we need actions.” Hadjipantela reaffirmed calls for the EU to station firefighting aircraft in Cyprus to enhance the island’s preparedness for future wildfires.
