The 2027 budget includes funding for staff training, conferences and seminars at the Regional Aerial Firefighting Hub at the “Andreas Papandreou” Air Base. Meanwhile, the process to secure EU co-funding for the acquisition of two firefighting aircraft is at an advanced stage.
State spending of around €1 million has been earmarked for the Cyprus Regional Aerial Firefighting Station (CRAFS) at the “Andreas Papandreou” Air Base in Paphos. The funds are specifically intended for one of its two roles, as a Centre of Excellence, investing in staff training and certification, the development of common standards, operational simulation, research and knowledge production.
The hub’s first workshop, held last month on 15 September, brought together personnel from more than ten countries, as well as representatives of European and international organisations. Its aim was to present the mission, vision, capabilities and proposed operating model of CRAFS. It is now set to be followed by a series of other events, including staff training sessions, conferences and seminars.
Following the completion of the infrastructure, at a cost of €802,000, the necessary transitional framework for the hub’s operation is already in place, while the process to give it formal institutional status is under way.
The relevant state spending is included in the 2027 budget of the Ministry of Interior, specifically under Civil Defence, which is scheduled to come before the House Finance Committee for examination and discussion on 9 November.
The Ministry of Interior is responsible for the financial management and accounting of CRAFS, while the Ministry of Defence is responsible for its organisation, command and operation, as well as for planning and promoting the steps needed to establish it institutionally.
Specifically, the budget includes:
- €900,000 for conferences, training sessions and other events at the hub, covering the 30% national contributionto EU funding for capacity-building actions totalling €3 million
- €70,000 for the hub’s operating expenses
- €25,000 for participation in meetings, conferences, seminars or other official duties abroad related to the hub’s operation and development
“First wings” with two aircraft
Meanwhile, the process to secure European Union co-funding for the acquisition of the first two firefighting aircraft is at an advanced stage. As Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas put it, the aircraft will be the hub’s “first wings”, strengthening its operational capabilities.
Speaking at the first workshop a month ago, the minister said the process, launched in consultation with the relevant EU Directorate, was expected to conclude positively, with priority given to countries of the Southern Neighbourhood.
Beyond its role as a Centre of Excellence, CRAFS will also operate as a regional hub supporting aerial firefighting operations. It will be responsible for the command and control of aerial firefighting assets made available or activated for missions, and for providing technical expertise within the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
Particular emphasis will be placed on operational interoperability and on developing common protocols and communication standards. To this end, cooperation with the EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC), the operational core of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, is at an advanced stage.
Infrastructure of €802,000
The CRAFS infrastructure was completed on 15 April 2026, at a total cost of €802,000.
The necessary transitional framework for the hub’s operation is already in place, while the process to establish it institutionally and secure its long-term operation is under way.
Hopes for a point of reference
The aim is for CRAFS to develop into a fully fledged regional hub that combines high operational readiness, training and certification, regional cooperation, research and innovation, Mr Palmas said at the hub’s first workshop.
The Republic of Cyprus, he noted, has shown that it is ready to take on this responsibility, expressing the hope that CRAFS will become a point of reference for Europe and the wider region. The goal, he said, is for the hub to stand as a symbol not only of high operational readiness, but also of a determination to invest in operational capability, cooperation and security across the wider region.
