Paphos, Cyprus. A new European firefighting hub based in Cyprus is set to be inaugurated in Paphos on April 23–24, alongside an informal EU summit to be held on the island during Cyprus’ presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Hub location and role
The facility will be located at Paphos airport and is expected to serve both operational and training purposes. EU officials said the centre will function as a “centre of excellence”, focusing on capacity building, training exercises and seasonal preparedness, drawing on expertise from EU member states and neighbouring countries in the south-east Mediterranean.
Financing and EU support
European Commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis management Hadja Lahbib said the hub will be co-financed, with Cyprus responsible for infrastructure while the EU contributes through the civil protection mechanism by providing training, preparedness and the exchange of best practices.
Link to broader EU policy
The announcement came as the European Commission unveiled a new risk management strategy aimed at tackling the growing threat of wildfires across Europe, with the Cyprus hub forming a key pillar for the Eastern Mediterranean. The initiative follows last September’s State of the Union address by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, in which she announced plans for the creation of the hub.
Cross-border cooperation
EU officials said the hub is expected to strengthen cross-border cooperation, in line with broader EU efforts to enhance collaboration with countries in the region on civil protection and disaster management.
Worsening wildfire conditions
The Commission said the new strategy responds to a sharp deterioration in wildfire conditions, noting that 2025 was Europe’s worst wildfire season on record, with more than one million hectares burned, an area larger than the entire island of Cyprus. Officials said wildfires are no longer confined to southern Europe, citing Sweden, Germany and Austria as countries increasingly requesting assistance, even late into October, reflecting a longer and more intense fire season.
How do you think the new hub in Paphos could affect wildfire preparedness and response in the Eastern Mediterranean?
