The European Union's response to the growing threat of wildfires relies increasingly on coordinated action through the European Civil Protection Mechanism. Beyond the aerial firefighting assets deployed each year, the mechanism has also operated since 2022 a European Firefighters Pre-Positioning Programme, in which Cyprus is participating for the first time this year as a host country for a foreign wildfire-fighting force.
Based at Platania in Troodos, a 21-member team from the Special Forest Operations Unit (EMODE) of the Hellenic Fire Service has been on operational standby in Cyprus since last Tuesday and will remain on the island until 15 September.
The pre-positioning programme has a clear objective beyond reducing response times and distances when European assistance is required for major forest fires.
Its purpose is for European firefighters to work alongside local crews who confront wildfires from the first moments of an incident, exchanging knowledge, adopting best practices, sharing operational experience and demonstrating European solidarity in real wildfire conditions.
At the same time, visiting teams become familiar with the host country's firefighting system, ensuring that if assistance is required in the future they will arrive significantly better prepared.
Coordination led by the Department of Forests
Support for the Greek mission during its stay in Cyprus is being jointly provided by the Department of Forests and Civil Defence.
The Department of Forests, which has operational responsibility for coordinating the Greek firefighters, has developed a daily programme introducing them to:
- Cyprus's wildfire-fighting system.
- Fire-readiness procedures.
- Forest regions across the island.
- Fire-protection infrastructure.
- Local operational conditions.
Civil Defence, meanwhile, acts as the Republic of Cyprus's national contact point with the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) and contributes the programme's European dimension.
Responsibility for hosting and supporting the mission is shared between Civil Defence and the Department of Forests.
"Joint preparation before a crisis"
Speaking to Politis, Panayiotis Liasides, spokesman for Civil Defence, said the training being provided to the 21 Greek firefighters reflects the philosophy of the pre-positioning programme.
According to Liasides, the initiative is based on the concept of joint preparation before a crisis, allowing emergency responses to be faster and more effective when assistance is required.
"It is important to understand the operating mechanisms of another country, the terrain, the fire-protection infrastructure and the specific operational conditions," he said.
"These are essential pieces of knowledge when you may need to deploy there in the future and carry out operations."
Since 2026 is Cyprus's first year in the programme, Liasides said the timing of the deployment, near the end of the fire season, provides a useful opportunity to dedicate time and personnel to training and familiarisation activities.
Interest from other countries
Liasides noted that from next year Cyprus is expected to host missions from additional countries as well.
According to him, Civil Defence has already made contact with several states and there is interest in participating.
He added that almost all costs associated with such missions, approximately 95%, are funded by the European Union.
This year responsibility for the incoming mission rests with the Department of Forests, although in future years similar deployments could be coordinated through the Fire Service, he said.
777 firefighters deployed across six Mediterranean countries
The Firefighter Pre-Positioning Programme was launched in 2022 on the initiative of former Greek Civil Protection Minister and former European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides.
The programme has expanded steadily since its creation.
In 2022, it began with 236 firefighters, all of whom were pre-positioned in Greece.
Now in its fifth year, the programme includes 777 firefighters from 14 countries, deployed across six Mediterranean countries, including Cyprus.
The largest contingent, 245 firefighters, has been deployed in Greece since 16 July, specifically in:
- The Peloponnese.
- Attica.
- Macedonia.
Large contingents have also been stationed in Spain and France.
