By Martin Banks

MEPs have called on the EU to “urgently implement a European heatwave action plan.”

This comes as extreme heat and wildfires hit large parts of Europe, forcing evacuations and putting lives at risk.

The appeal was made this week by the Greens/EFA Group to the European Commission and Member States.

The group says it urges EU support for firefighters and to cool down homes, schools, hospitals, public transport and cities.

A statement by the group said, “The five biggest fossil fuel companies must contribute to the costs of adapting Europe to a climate crisis they helped create.”

Greens/EFA Co-President Terry Reintke commented, “Europe is burning, people are being forced from their homes and millions are living through unbearable heat.

“This is not normal summer weather, but the result of years of political inaction and weakened climate ambition. 

 “Too many EU leaders still treat climate action as optional, while citizens, firefighters, farmers and taxpayers pay the price. Heatwaves and wildfires are a security risk, a public health crisis and a social crisis all at once.

“The Commission must act now to cool down our continent. We need more effective support for our firefighters. Cities must provide more shade, trees, water points and cooling zones and help vulnerable households to keep their homes cool without pushing up energy bills.

“Fossil fuel companies have profited for decades from the pollution that is overheating Europe. They should help foot the bill. If political leaders do not have the climate solutions people need, they should stop standing in the way of those who do.” 

Meanwhile, the European Commission says the EU has deployed assistance to both France and Spain under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism as ongoing wildfires have triggered one of the biggest evacuation operations in Europe, displacing more than 300,000 people in France and Spain.

In France, the EU has deployed seven planes and four helicopters from Czechia, Croatia, Germany, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden, and Türkiye. Most of these aircraft are part of the rescEU firefighting fleet.

In Spain, the EU has mobilised six planes from Greece, Italy and Türkiye, and deployed134 personnel and 41 vehicles from Portugal.

The EU’s Copernicus satellite service is also providing rapid emergency maps to support the response on the ground. The EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre remains in close contact with both the French and Spanish authorities, to assess what further support can be potentially mobilised, and a liaison officer from the European Commission is in Bordeaux to help national authorities coordinate EU assistance.

As part of the EU’s measures  ahead of this year’s wildfire season, firefighting teams from other European countries had already been France and Spainbefore the fires began, allowing them to reinforce national responders immediately.

Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality, Hadja Lahbib said, “Right now, hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes, while firefighters battle walls of flame in dramatic conditions to save lives and communities. No country should ever have to face a disaster of this scale alone.

“That is exactly why Europe built a common response capacity:  aircraft in the sky, firefighters on the ground, and more support standing ready the moment it is needed. To the people of France and Spain: Europe will stand with you until the fires are out,”said the Commissioner.

The EC says that when a country asks for help through the EU scheme the request is shared with all 37 participating countries.

“Each can offer the aircraft, helicopters, firefighting teams, equipment or experts it is able to make available, and the Commission coordinates and cofinances their deployment. If those national offers are not enough, the EU can draw on rescEU, its own strategic reserve, which includes a fleet of 22 planes and five helicopters,” said the EC spokesman.