The Council of Ministers today agreed to extend, until the end of 2027, a transitional measure which will allow Member States to continue to benefit from EU funding for the leasing of firefighting planes and helicopters, until a future, permanent EU firefighting fleet.

The decision will now be published in the Official Journal of the EU. It will enter into force on the twentieth day after its publication.

In 2019, the rescEU was created as a pool of European civil protection capabilities that steps in to help member states protect citizens when disasters – such as fires – overwhelm existing response capabilities. These rescEU capabilities include a fleet of firefighting planes and helicopters.

To ensure a smooth transition until the rescEU firefighting fleet is fully available, the Commission may, for a transitional period until 31 December 2024, provide funding to Member States for the leasing of firefighting aircraft.

Since the purchase of highly specialized aircraft cannot be completed before the end of 2024the transitional period for the rental of forest firefighting airplanes and helicopters had to be extended.