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13 June 2025
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Europe moves toward unified wildfire strategy
As wildfires become more frequent, severe, and unpredictable across Europe, policymakers, scientists, and practitioners are rallying behind a new strategy and a new approach to wildfire risk. At a two-day gathering in Brussels last week, over 150 experts from across Europe came together to launch the proposal for an Integrated Wildfire Risk Management (IWRM) Strategy, a plan designed to bridge the gaps between science, policy and operational preparedness.
The event, ‘Innovating with Wildfire Risk Management – A New Strategy for Europe’, was convened by the Firelogue coordination project alongside the EU Research Executive Agency, with support from four major research initiatives funded under the European Green Deal: FirEUrisk, FIRE-RES, SILVANUS and TREEADS. Together, these projects have spent the past four years identifying systemic weaknesses in Europe’s wildfire management landscape and designing solutions to overcome them. The draft strategy proposal is also the result of the work of these research projects combined.
Firelogue event
One of the strategy’s central ambitions is to help shift the EU from fragmented, reactive responses toward a shared, proactive framework that supports long-term resilience and civil protection capacity. In a context where climate change is reshaping the geography and intensity of fire risk, this shift is both urgent and complex.
“Wildfires are no longer seasonal phenomena. They are persistent, systemic threats and they require a systemic response”, said the project leader.
A strategic pivot for civil protection
While wildfires have long affected southern Europe, recent years have seen fires erupting in northern and central regions with increasing regularity. This changing risk profile has strained national civil protection systems and underscored the need for better coordination at EU level.
The IWRM Strategy directly supports the goals of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, calling for a more integrated approach that links landscape management, emergency preparedness, public awareness and real-time data infrastructure. It also highlights the growing role of local authorities and calls for investment in their ability to implement prevention strategies.
At the heart of the discussions in Brussels was a shared understanding: Europe cannot afford to treat wildfire as a seasonal emergency alone. It must be seen as a year-round governance challenge, requiring cooperation across administrative borders and institutional boundaries.
From research to response: Bridging the gaps
The IWRM Strategy proposal doesn’t just outline objectives; it translates research into operationally relevant tools. During the event, participants explored a wide range of innovations, from drone-based monitoring systems and risk simulation platforms to mobile applications designed to support firefighters and first responders in the field. A virtual-reality training module showcased how immersive tools can prepare teams for complex fire scenarios before they unfold in real life.
These technologies, many of which have already been tested in pilot regions, demonstrate how research can directly benefit the missions of civil protection agencies. But as several speakers noted, tools alone are not enough. They must be embedded into decision-making frameworks and supported by training, investment and political commitment.
That’s where collaborative formats such as Fire Forums come in; regional platforms for continuous dialogue and capacity-building among scientists, civil protection units, land managers and policymakers. These forums aim to foster trust and accelerate knowledge sharing, especially in regions where institutional capacity remains limited.
A collective path forward
The event culminated in a high-level roundtable that included representatives from the European Commission’s DG ECHO, DG Environment, and the Joint Research Centre, as well as the World Bank and national agencies. Discussions centred on how the strategy proposal could be aligned with existing EU tools and programmes and where legal and institutional upgrades might be needed.
That sentiment was echoed by many in the room. The message was clear: effective wildfire risk management must be multi-level, multi-sector and continuous. From education campaigns in schools to cross-border coordination between fire services, the IWRM Strategy sets a direction but it also invites broad participation.
“The strategy offers a blueprint but its success will depend on political will and institutional readiness at all scales,” said an official at the closing ceremony.
Toward a fire-resilient Europe
As the climate crisis accelerates and fire becomes a fact of life for more regions of Europe, the IWRM Strategy proposal signals a turning point in how the EU approaches one of its most visible climate impacts. By linking research and real-world practice, and by placing civil protection systems at the centre of the conversation, the strategy offers not just a plan, but a path toward long-term adaptation.
Now, collaboration between the relevant Commission entities and the Member States and regions is needed to turn the proposal into a designated strategy.
Article written by Claudia Berchtold and Sebastian Wagner, Firelogue project. Source: European Union
The event, ‘Innovating with Wildfire Risk Management – A New Strategy for Europe’, was convened by the Firelogue coordination project alongside the EU Research Executive Agency, with support from four major research initiatives funded under the European Green Deal: FirEUrisk, FIRE-RES, SILVANUS and TREEADS. Together, these projects have spent the past four years identifying systemic weaknesses in Europe’s wildfire management landscape and designing solutions to overcome them. The draft strategy proposal is also the result of the work of these research projects combined.
Firelogue event
One of the strategy’s central ambitions is to help shift the EU from fragmented, reactive responses toward a shared, proactive framework that supports long-term resilience and civil protection capacity. In a context where climate change is reshaping the geography and intensity of fire risk, this shift is both urgent and complex.
“Wildfires are no longer seasonal phenomena. They are persistent, systemic threats and they require a systemic response”, said the project leader.
A strategic pivot for civil protection
While wildfires have long affected southern Europe, recent years have seen fires erupting in northern and central regions with increasing regularity. This changing risk profile has strained national civil protection systems and underscored the need for better coordination at EU level.
The IWRM Strategy directly supports the goals of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, calling for a more integrated approach that links landscape management, emergency preparedness, public awareness and real-time data infrastructure. It also highlights the growing role of local authorities and calls for investment in their ability to implement prevention strategies.
At the heart of the discussions in Brussels was a shared understanding: Europe cannot afford to treat wildfire as a seasonal emergency alone. It must be seen as a year-round governance challenge, requiring cooperation across administrative borders and institutional boundaries.
From research to response: Bridging the gaps
The IWRM Strategy proposal doesn’t just outline objectives; it translates research into operationally relevant tools. During the event, participants explored a wide range of innovations, from drone-based monitoring systems and risk simulation platforms to mobile applications designed to support firefighters and first responders in the field. A virtual-reality training module showcased how immersive tools can prepare teams for complex fire scenarios before they unfold in real life.
These technologies, many of which have already been tested in pilot regions, demonstrate how research can directly benefit the missions of civil protection agencies. But as several speakers noted, tools alone are not enough. They must be embedded into decision-making frameworks and supported by training, investment and political commitment.
That’s where collaborative formats such as Fire Forums come in; regional platforms for continuous dialogue and capacity-building among scientists, civil protection units, land managers and policymakers. These forums aim to foster trust and accelerate knowledge sharing, especially in regions where institutional capacity remains limited.
A collective path forward
The event culminated in a high-level roundtable that included representatives from the European Commission’s DG ECHO, DG Environment, and the Joint Research Centre, as well as the World Bank and national agencies. Discussions centred on how the strategy proposal could be aligned with existing EU tools and programmes and where legal and institutional upgrades might be needed.
That sentiment was echoed by many in the room. The message was clear: effective wildfire risk management must be multi-level, multi-sector and continuous. From education campaigns in schools to cross-border coordination between fire services, the IWRM Strategy sets a direction but it also invites broad participation.
“The strategy offers a blueprint but its success will depend on political will and institutional readiness at all scales,” said an official at the closing ceremony.
Toward a fire-resilient Europe
As the climate crisis accelerates and fire becomes a fact of life for more regions of Europe, the IWRM Strategy proposal signals a turning point in how the EU approaches one of its most visible climate impacts. By linking research and real-world practice, and by placing civil protection systems at the centre of the conversation, the strategy offers not just a plan, but a path toward long-term adaptation.
Now, collaboration between the relevant Commission entities and the Member States and regions is needed to turn the proposal into a designated strategy.
Article written by Claudia Berchtold and Sebastian Wagner, Firelogue project. Source: European Union