Two parallel initiatives, one led by the Civil Defence and the other by AKEL MP Irene Charalambidou, are currently underway in Cyprus, both aiming to establish a formal and regulated framework for the integration, training, support and utilisation of certified volunteer teams during natural and man-made disasters, such as wildfires.
According to Civil Defence officials, the first draft of a new bill is expected next month. This legislation will propose that all volunteers, registered in a unified national database, operate under the responsibility and coordination of Civil Defence, in a more structured and systematic way. This forms part of a broader plan to transform Civil Defence into a General Directorate of Civil Protection, under the new National Civil Protection Mechanism.
Before being submitted to the Ministry of Interior, the draft bill will be shared with certified volunteer teams for consultation. “We want the final version to reflect how the teams themselves envision their role within the state apparatus,” said Maria Pappa, Commander of the Civil Defence, speaking to Politis.
Charalambidou’s legislative proposal
Meanwhile, MP Irene Charalambidou has completed a legislative proposal that has already been submitted to Parliament. Her proposal consolidates existing fragmented provisions from past decisions by the Cabinet, the Fire Service, and the Forestry Department, into a comprehensive legislative framework that formalises and enhances the involvement of specialised volunteer teams in state firefighting operations.
Last Friday, six certified volunteer teams currently operating under the Fire Service participated in a four-hour, article-by-article review session at Parliament. These included:
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ETEA
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Kitasweather
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Omonia 29th May Gate 9
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SOS Special Operations Squad
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Cyprus Rescue Team
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SupportCY
During the session, the teams submitted comments and suggestions on key provisions.
According to Marios Spyrou of SupportCY, there was consensus among the teams that Charalambidou’s proposal offers a well-rounded and positive legal framework that for the first time would formally recognise the role and contribution of certified volunteer units.
“The teams are hopeful that the bill will receive backing from both state authorities and MPs,” said Spyrou. “Ideally, it will be passed into law and come into force before the 2026 wildfire season, improving the effectiveness of volunteer support in both prevention and response.”
Coordination between stakeholders
Civil Defence Commander Maria Pappa confirmed that her office intends to open dialogue with MP Charalambidouand other members of Parliament who are promoting related initiatives. The goal is to exchange views and align priorities so that the final legislative text can more easily pass through parliamentary debate.
“We want to integrate parliamentary input into our draft so that once discussions begin in the House, the process is more efficient,” Pappa explained.
Operational concerns
While broadly supportive of regulation, certified volunteer groups have raised a number of practical concerns, which they intend to bring before Civil Defence and MPs in the coming weeks, during deliberations on the proposed legislation.
One of their key concerns is the potential disruption of direct communication channels currently in place between volunteer teams and the Fire and Forestry Services. According to Marios Spyrou, if future deployment of volunteer teams is handled through a new intermediary body rather than by direct call-up from the relevant emergency services, it could delay response times and reduce operational efficiency.
“At present, when the Fire Service calls us, we’re operational within 20 minutes,” he said. “Delays caused by going through another administrative layer could compromise effectiveness.”
Call for localised coordination
Erik Kitas, of Kitasweather Firefighting Volunteer Team based in Limassol, echoed these concerns. He proposed that each volunteer group be officially linked to at least two Fire Stations and two Forestry Stations in their operational district. This would ensure continuity of collaboration and avoid situations where teams are sent outside their home region without proper local knowledge or coordination.
Kitas also stressed the importance of passing the legislation by spring 2026, so the new framework can be implemented ahead of the next wildfire season.
Both Charalambidou’s legislative proposal and the upcoming Civil Defence bill are expected to come before the Parliamentary Committee on Internal Affairs in the coming months. According to Civil Defence officials, the shared objective is for the final legislation to be voted into law before Parliament dissolves in May 2026, ahead of the national elections.