European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU will revisit a proposal to set up a firefighting aircraft base in Cyprus to help countries in the region.

Speaking after a morning meeting with President Nicos Anastasiades, the Commission president said she will convey to the EU the need to set up the base.

The proposal was first made by former Cypriot EU commissioner Christos Stylianides after a big fire in the Solia area in 2016.

Stylianides had proposed setting up the base as part of the EU’s civil protection mechanism, but it was rejected by the Commission.

The matter remerged after the deadly weekend blaze, the worst in decades, which destroyed some 55 square kilometres including homes, pine forest, and cultivations. Four men were also killed in the fire while trying to escape.

Von der Leyen visited the area on Wednesday and spoke to residents and firefighters who had taken part in the efforts to bring it under control.

“I want to reassure that we will of course stand by your side because this will have a long-lasting effect and it will take a lot of joint effort to rebuild,” she said on Thursday during a joint news conference with President Nicos Anastasiades.

Von der Leyen commended Cyprus for including €18m in its recovery and resilience plan, officially approved by the Commission on Thursday, for the procurement of equipment to fight natural catastrophes.