- The Andalusian MEP defends the “need to modify European regulations to establish fire-fighting devices and prevention measures throughout the year and not just in the summer season”
- Crespo calls for “more resources for research to deal with sixth-generation fires, the application of new technology that allows for night flights and greater efficiency for drones and air fleets”
The Popular Party in the European Parliament, through the MEP, Carmen Crespo, has requested a “more forceful action” by the European Union (EU) in the fight against forest fires, which have tripled in recent years as a consequence of climate change. According to Crespo, this requires “the provision of greater economic, human and technological resources by the European Union.”
In this regard, Crespo has raised the need to "maximize the Emergency Response operation 'RescEU', created by the European Union to provide assistance to the Member States, equipping it with new mechanisms that allow it to have its own device for the prevention and extinction of fires that is complementary to those already existing in the countries of the Member States."
According to Crespo, “we need to have a strong mechanism that will allow Europe to be prepared to respond to the fires that are occurring, as they are increasingly virulent, considered sixth generation, and are causing great losses as we have recently seen in Spain, Portugal and Greece.”
In this regard, the MEP and also the spokesperson for agriculture of the GPPE, has stressed the importance of "promoting changes in EU regulations on forest fires that allow Member States to have extinction mechanisms and measures throughout the year, and not only in the summer season, which is essential."
Crespo has also asked the EU to “invest resources in research and innovation to advance the development of cutting-edge technology that allows for night flights in fire prevention and extinction missions.” “It is vital that Europe explores this option, as well as other tools such as the use of unmanned aircraft for these missions, which requires greater investment in research, advanced technology and the adaptation of European regulations,” he concluded.
In his speech, Crespo stressed the need to also lead the way in standardising the training of forest firefighters. “This will provide greater security for the European Union, as well as facilitating the creation of joint rescue and firefighting mechanisms,” he said.
Finally, the policy emphasised that the EU must increase its financial resources for fire prevention, with a special focus on financing the maintenance of firebreaks and the cleaning of riverbeds and mountains, beyond the funds established by the CAP itself.
