EU plans new firefighting fleet after deadly summer heat wave

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced plans on Wednesday to establish a new firefighting fleet for the European Union. The proposal follows a summer of extreme heat that resulted in dried-up rivers and tens of thousands of deaths across member states, stretching from Portugal to Hungary.

The initiative is framed as a necessary response to a worsening climate. Officials intend for the fleet to provide the bloc with new tools to address the increasing frequency and severity of environmental emergencies that have recently impacted the region.