PT Aerial Fire-Fighting rescEU capacities / 2024

ended

RescEU capacities were created with the aim to complement national capacities, and serve as a safety net to face – not only but also - one of the most challenging risks in Europe – wildfires. At the present moment due to the extreme weather conditions that are becoming more and more frequent causing wildfires that overwhelm the capacity response at national level, Europe is facing a lack of aerial firefighting means to prepare and respond, at EU level, this very unique risk. Portugal proposes to create 2 additional rescEU aerial firefighting means (planes) that will guarantee extra means to complement the national level and also the overall existing capacities committed by MS to the European Civil Protection Pool. Therefore, this project brings several added-values: (1) it will address temporary shortcomings in case of extraordinary forest fires; (2) it will create some predictability in EU response operations; (3) it will allow UCPM to be more efficient, namely by delivering the expected results due to the additional capacities created, (4) it will bring visibility to UCPM and MS, (5) it will show solidarity at EU level among MS, and (6) it will reinforce EU's and Member States’ collective ability to respond to disasters.