During her annual State of the Union address at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen paid tribute to a group of Greek firefighters who fought tirelessly to contain devastating wildfires in Spain.
The team of 20 forest commandos, led by Lieutenant Colonel Nikolaos Paisios, played a pivotal role in protecting the northern Spanish village of Genestoso. Von der Leyen described their actions as heroic, noting that they “stood by their Spanish colleagues for five days” to safeguard the community.
“Their courage is an inspiration to all of us,” von der Leyen said, emphasizing that the firefighters worked day and night to tame the flames and ultimately save the village.
Rising Threat of Wildfires Across Europe
Von der Leyen highlighted that this year alone, around 10 million hectares of forests and farmland have burned across Europe, underlining the growing danger posed by climate change. She stressed the urgent need for Europe to strengthen its resilience and adaptation strategies against such disasters.
As part of this effort, she announced plans to establish a European firefighting hub in Cyprus, which would coordinate responses and support regional neighbors during major wildfire events.
A Standing Ovation for Greece
Lieutenant Colonel Paisios was present in the European Parliament, representing the Greek firefighters. Following von der Leyen’s remarks, the assembly gave the team a prolonged standing ovation, acknowledging their dedication and bravery.
In Spain specifically, wildfires have scorched more than 3.8 million hectares so far this year, far exceeding the 20-year average of 700,000 hectares, highlighting the unprecedented scale of this year’s fire season.
Von der Leyen’s recognition of the Greek firefighters underscores the importance of cross-border cooperation in tackling extreme climate events. She also cited the role of the European Civil Protection Mechanism, noting that “760 brave Europeans were deployed across the continent” to combat fires this summer.
