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.