Cyprus Fires: Why Was EU Aid Delayed?

Questions arise regarding the delay in the arrival of EU aid during the recent fires in the Limassol area, despite gratitude expressed to countries such as Jordan, Egypt, Israel, Spain, Greece, Lebanon, and Sweden for their response.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus also expressed gratitude to Slovenia, Italy, and Serbia for their readiness to assist.

The process of sending aid requires 36-48 hours, including the review of the situation by each country. Some countries responded within 24 hours. Aircraft from Spain ultimately did not arrive due to the fire's evolution, while forces from Italy and Serbia were on standby.

The timing, with fires in Greece, Italy, and Albania, played a crucial role. Initially, helicopters from Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan assisted, while the contribution of two C130 aircraft from Israel was decisive.

ELK MEP Loukas Fourlas denounced the inability of the RescEU mechanism to respond promptly and effectively to natural disasters in Cyprus, emphasizing the need for permanent stationing of aircraft in Cyprus.

The EU Civil Protection Mechanism coordinates pan-European assistance, with the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) monitoring the risks. The EU has allocated financial resources to purchase 12 new firefighting aircraft and 5 helicopters, creating a permanent rescEU fleet for 2028.