The MEP’s call for action seeks to prevent and combat next summer’s forest fires in Europe, strengthen the EU’s fire-fighting competence and restore affected areas.
In the last plenary session in Strasbourg, the Spanish MEP Soraya Rodríguez Ramos called for more measures and commitment to immediately combat the forest fires that threaten Europe. Against the background of the devastating fire in the Sierra de la Culebra, in Castilla y León, where more than 24,000 hectares were devastated due to the lack of operation of the extinguishing equipment, Rodríguez has insisted on the need to avoid similar situations with tremendous economic, social and environmental impacts.
In her speech, the MEP called for the convening of a council of environment ministers to strengthen the European Union’s competence in the fight against fire. Rodríguez argued that we cannot wait until next summer: “After 830,000 hectares burnt in Europe, we are back here in the first plenary in Strasbourg. We cannot wait for next summer, you have to convene a summit now to strengthen the EU’s competence in the fight against fire”, she called on Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius.
Among the proposals, she asked for the creation of a permanent EU civil protection force to fight forest fires throughout the year. In addition, the MEP has called for Member States to be required to maintain permanent operational teams for firefighting throughout the year. She has also emphasized the need to implement a restoration plan for burned areas in Europe, with the aim of making the continent more resilient against forest fires.
Soraya Rodríguez called for action this winter to prevent fires next summer. The urgency and importance of protecting our forests and natural environments demands an immediate and coordinated response at European level.
