Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001921/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos (NI), Kostas Papadakis (NI)
Last year the EU suffered a burnt area of 419 298 hectares, a figure above the average for the years 2006-2023, with 35 % of the burnt territory inside Natura 2000 areas. Greece, for its part, saw approximately 500 000 acres on fire. The Hellenic Fire Service and the Hellenic Forest Service continue to operate with tragic understaffing, with over 4 000 vacant positions. Over time, Greek governments and the current New Democracy Government, have, like the EU, not chosen to staff competent services, with a shortfall of approximately 1 500 foresters and 10 000 forest workers.
In view of the above:
- 1.What is the Commission’s position on the fact that the ineffective ‘rescEU’ mechanism – which is oriented towards firefighting rather than comprehensive prevention – perpetuates the huge shortages in personnel, resources and infrastructure, recycling very little of them and even delaying from country to country?
- 2.What is the Commission’s position on demands that the huge needs of the Hellenic Forest Service and Hellenic Fire Service be met immediately with permanent personnel, with all seasonal firefighters being made permanent, along with the strengthening and renewal of the state ground and aerial firefighting fleet, taking into account the effectiveness of its use as a means, as well as the particular geomorphological conditions of Greece?
- 3.What is the Commission’s position on the fact that, under Regulations (EU) 2018/841 and (EU) 2020/852, forest protection is considered a cost and is not a preferred option, since forests and land are treated as fields of business activity aimed at making profits for business groups?
Submitted: 14.5.2025