The Republic of Cyprus is deploying two aerial firefighting aircraft to France in response to an official request submitted through the European Union’s RescEU mechanism.
According to an announcement by the Ministry of Interior, the two air tractors are being sent to assist French authorities in tackling large wildfires currently affecting the country.
Aircraft stationed in Cyprus under EU programme
The Ministry clarified that the aircraft are leased to Cyprus through the EU RescEU framework and are permanently based on the island as part of the European civil protection system.
RescEU is the EU’s reserve capacity system, designed to support member states during major emergencies and natural disasters.
EU emergency cooperation
The RescEU mechanism is activated when national resources are insufficient, ensuring coordinated European assistance in crisis situations such as wildfires, floods, and other large-scale emergencies.
Cyprus’ participation highlights its role in regional emergency response efforts, particularly during periods of heightened wildfire risk across Europe.
Strong cross-border support
Authorities said the deployment demonstrates solidarity between EU member states and the importance of shared civil protection resources in responding to increasingly frequent extreme weather events.
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