Wildfire Prevention: European Funds with Uncertain Impact, Regrets a Report

musaddiqalii

Jun 11, 2025 - 18:01

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Wildfire Prevention: European Funds with Uncertain Impact, Regrets a Report

Brussels – The European Union is spending more and more money to try to prevent wildfires, but the effectiveness of this spending remains uncertain due to a lack of targeting and evaluation, the European Court of Auditors lamented in a report on Wednesday.

According to the Court, at least 3.5 billion euros have been allocated by the EU to combat wildfires during the period 2021-2027.

And there is an increasing emphasis on preventive measures, such as the creation of firebreaks and vegetation thinning.

But this money is “not systematically spent where the needs and risks are highest,” the Court criticizes.

The institution based in Luxembourg particularly points to outdated information provided by certain states.

In Greece, for example, in 2024, the list of the most fire-prone areas, which is 45 years old, had still not been updated. In Portugal, an area was deemed a priority for obtaining European funds even though it had already been partially submerged since the construction of a dam several years ago. (June 11, 2025)