The European Commission has proposed establishing a fire-fighting center in Cyprus

On September 10, 2025, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a proposal to set up a European center for fighting forest fires in Cyprus.

The initiative to create a base for the civil protection mechanism rescEU was launched in 2019. Discussions stalled at the time due to disagreements over the type of aircraft: the European Commission and Southern European countries insisted on deploying amphibious Canadair planes, while the Cyprus Department of Forests considered lighter and more maneuverable Air Tractor aircraft more suitable.

The financial aspect was crucial: two Canadairs were valued at over €40 million, whereas four Air Tractors cost around €10 million. Cyprus proposed a mixed fleet model to improve operational flexibility in different scenarios. The island’s strategic geographical position and experience in providing regional assistance, highlighted in Nicosia’s appeals to Brussels, were also cited in its favor.

In recent years, Nicosia has stepped up negotiations: a joint letter with Jordan in July 2023, a personal appeal by President Nikos Christodoulides and King Abdullah II of Jordan at the MED9 summit in Paphos in October 2024, as well as technical proposals in 2025. During the summer season of 2025, two Air Tractors operated in Cyprus (from June 15 to October 30/31), while in July two Canadairs from the European rescEU fleet were mobilized.

The European Commission’s decision on the base format—whether exclusively amphibious or “mixed”—will determine the deployment timeline, project cost, and operational compatibility with bases in Spain, Italy, and Greece.