The European Court of Auditors (ECA) recently published a report highlighting the inefficiencies in the fight against wildfires in Europe, primarily stemming from outdated map data. The analysis focused on how member states utilize EU funds to combat wildfires, revealing that while there has been a significant investment in preventive measures, the outdated data and lack of monitoring regarding the effectiveness of these expenditures hinder their impact. The ECA’s examination included EU-funded projects since 2014 in countries such as Greece, Spain, Poland, and Portugal, concluding that many funded initiatives do not prioritize areas most susceptible to fire hazards.
Particularly concerning was the finding that Greece relies on a fire hazard map over 45 years old. In Portugal, a flooded area was mistakenly prioritized for fire prevention despite the presence of a newly constructed dam, illustrating the severe consequences of outdated data. Nikolaos Milionis, the ECA member overseeing the audit, stated that while the European Union is allocating more resources for fire prevention, the current project selection process is not effectively channeling these funds to areas where they are needed most. Additionally, there is scant information available on the long-term efficacy of these initiatives once EU funding ceases.
In Spain, funds were distributed evenly across provinces regardless of their specific fire risk profiles, demonstrating a general misalignment of resources in areas with varying needs. This issue resonates particularly in countries like Greece, Spain, and Portugal—often the hardest hit by wildfires—where fire incidents have surged in recent years. Since 2021, the EU has experienced an average loss of over 5,200 square kilometers of land to wildfires annually, significantly escalating the urgency for efficient preventive measures.
That said, some positive strides have been made in fire prevention funding; for example, in Portugal, the share of resources allocated for prevention rose from 20% in 2017 to 61% by 2022. However, the ECA’s auditors found that accurately tracking EU expenditures on wildfires remains challenging, primarily because member states are not required to report on the specific use of funds for different types of natural disasters. Consequently, the actual effectiveness and impact of EU financial assistance in curtailing wildfires cannot be determined.
To enhance the effectiveness of fire management strategies, the ECA urges the EU executive to adopt best practices for project selection. This includes advocating for the use of updated risk maps and establishing criteria based on geographic coverage and fire risk. The report emphasizes leveraging existing European resources, like the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), which provides crucial data on fire incidents and damage on a regular basis. As of mid-June, reports indicated that 168,000 hectares had been scorched across the EU—a figure significantly higher than the historical averages for the same period.
Looking to future improvements, the ECA’s report does not encompass the funding allocated for emergency response operations or the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, which will be evaluated in an upcoming audit. The European Commission has already invested in acquiring amphibious firefighting aircraft and has been deploying firefighters preemptively to high-risk areas. However, without systemic changes in data accuracy and project funding criteria, the EU’s ongoing efforts to mitigate wildfires may continue to fall short.
