“Help, solidarity” European Union in the fight against the fires ravaging France “is the right tool”estimated Thursday, August 11 on franceinfo the MEP Fabienne Keller, while 361 European firefighters are expected in Gironde. “There is an awareness that it can happen to each member state”she believes.
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franceinfo: The RescEU system has existed since 2019. The European Commission is now considering the purchase of new devices. Do you think this is necessary, given the intensity of the fires in Europe?
Fabienne Keller: Sure. As each of us sees in the news, there are many fires everywhere: in Portugal, Greece and France, where we are having a terrifying year. There is an awareness that it can happen to every Member State. So mutual aid, solidarity, is the right tool. From where on the one hand, the mechanisms of mutual aid, with the Germans or the Italians who come with their material. And then on the other hand, this RescEU mechanism, with the acquisition of planes and helicopters entirely financed by the European Union. Without forgetting exercises to get used to working together.
Is it too expensive today to buy equipment on behalf of the European Union?
This is what RescEU finances, and it is a very useful material contribution. But with what we are currently experiencing in France, it is precious to have firefighters and vehicles that work together. Our own firefighters are exhausted. So the fact of having strengths in terms of personnel, with whom we have already worked in the context of exercises in particular, creates very rapid efficiency.
Voices have been raised in France for a month to say that the national means are not up to scratch. Do you agree ?
This will be an assessment that will of course have to be made, in the light of the episode we are experiencing this summer. But the time today is for the mobilization of all devices. Faced with brutal fires as in Gironde, we must be able to appeal to first national solidarity but beyond, if necessary, to European means.