EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said in a speech on Wednesday that the commission intended to propose the creation of a new European firefighting hub based in Cyprus, a move President Nikos Christodoulides hailed as “a hugely important announcement”.

In her 2025 State of the Union address, von der Leyen said that “this summer, we all saw the pictures of Europe’s forests and villages on fire.”

“More than a million hectares were burned. An area around a third of the size of Belgium. The scale of the damage is enormous. And we know it is not a one off. Climate change is making each summer hotter, harsher, and more dangerous,” she said.

She said the EU had to radically step up efforts for climate resilience and adaptation, and nature-based solutions, but they also needed the tools to respond.

“This is why we will propose to create a new European firefighting hub based in Cyprus, which could also support our regional neighbours,” she said.

Christodoulides soon after posted on X that this was “A momentous #SOTEU by President @vonderleyen”.

“Together, proudly European! Dear Ursula, thank you for the hugely important announcement of a European firefighting hub based in Cyrus, covering our region. Strong Together!” he wrote.

Later on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos and European Affairs Deputy Minister Marilena Raouna issued a joint statement hailing the proposal, with Raouna saying the plan has come about in view of Cyprus holding the Council of the European Union’s rotating presidency in the first half of next year.

To this end, she said it will be “the beginning of other initiatives” which, in combination with the placement of a new firefighting hub on the island, will constitute what Kombos described as “the culmination of what the Republic of Cyprus is projecting; namely our role as the bridge of the European Union with the region”.

“In this regard, we will continue to operate on the basis of results which will come as a consequence of methodical and systematic work and the ability to convince our partners of the common interests of Cyprus and the European Union,” he said.

MEP Loucas Fourlas described von der Leyen’s reference to a firefighting hub in Cyprus as an “especially positive development for our country”.

Fourlas said he had personally insisted on such a hub, adding that Cyprus, as an island member state of the EU, was entitled to have access to European emergency response mechanisms.

Diko also welcomed the move, saying this would upgrade Cyprus at an institutional and operational level for the EU and the eastern Mediterranean.

“This development is not a random incident. It is the result of a coordinated diplomatic effort on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus,” Diko said.

Dipa said the initiative constituted a substantive instrument to enhance the protection policy and was an important step in the right direction.

The party also pointed out the need for preventive measures, immediate notification of the public and upgrading the operational readiness of all services involved.