Prepare, don't just react: EU advisers warn after 16,000 excess deaths due to heatwaves
As Europe counts over 16,000 excess deaths due to this summer’s soaring temperatures, the European Union’s health security committee is calling for a fundamental shift in how governments prepare for heatwaves — moving away from reacting to emergencies towards systematic, long-term planning.
The recent spell of extreme heat has claimed thousands of additional deaths across Europe. With climate change expected to make heatwaves more frequent and more intense, the committee, which coordinates preparedness and responses to serious cross-border health threats, has set out recommendations aimed at strengthening Europe's resilience.
The message is stark: Europe — the world's fastest-warming continent — is not adequately prepared.
Public health systems in many EU countries remain "insufficiently prepared" to cope with prolonged periods of extreme heat, according to the committee's opinion, adopted on 30 July. It argues that tackling the growing threat requires "a cross-sectoral, whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach", combining short-, medium- and long-term measures.
The health impacts extend well beyond heatstroke. Prolonged periods of high temperatures increase mortality, exacerbate existing medical conditions and place additional strain on healthcare systems. They also affect plant and animal health, with knock-on effects for livelihoods and mental wellbeing.
Extreme heat also raises the risk of wildfires, bringing further consequences for public health through deteriorating air quality, damage to critical infrastructure and environmental degradation.
Older people, children, pregnant women, people with chronic illnesses, outdoor workers and other vulnerable groups are among those most at risk.
The committee is urging member countries to strengthen coordination across government departments and public authorities, ensure Heat-Health Action Plans are regularly updated and developed jointly by public health and civil protection agencies, and improve information sharing through the EU's Early Warning and Response System. It also calls for evidence-based measures to better protect children, workers exposed to high temperatures, and people attending large public events.
The opinion also highlights the need to better equip healthcare professionals through dedicated training to recognise and manage heat-related illnesses, while improving public communication with multilingual advice aimed at tourists and seasonal, cross-border and transport workers. At the same time, it calls for efforts to close persistent data gaps and build a stronger evidence base on the health impacts of heatwaves through the European Climate and Health Observatory.
The recommendations come as the European Commission prepares a European Integrated Framework for Climate Resilience, due before the end of 2026, which is expected to strengthen the bloc's preparedness for climate-related risks, including extreme heat.
EU crisis chief calls for prevention funding as wildfire crisis rages on
As firefighters continue to battle major blazes in France, the European Union's crisis management chief is calling for more investment in prevention, forest management and emergency response.
Issued on: 30/07/2026 - RFI
The EU must invest more in preventing wildfires and educating the public about fire risks as climate change makes blazes more frequent and severe, the bloc’s crisis management chief has said.
Hadja Lahbib, the EU Commissioner for Crisis Management, has called for greater funding, improved forest management and stronger public awareness campaigns.
“Climate change is accelerating. So our response must evolve just as quickly,” said Lahbib. “We must prepare for risks before disasters strike, and not simply react afterwards.”
Her comments came as more than 2,200 firefighters and 20 aircraft remained mobilised against a vast wildfire in France’s south-western Gironde department on Wednesday.
Although the fire did not spread overnight, authorities warned that temperatures of around 40C, dry conditions and strengthening afternoon winds could reignite smouldering areas and carry embers beyond existing firebreaks.
“We strike quickly and strike hard at any new smoke emissions,” Gironde fire commander Matthieu Jomain said.
'Not out of the woods'
Firefighters are continuing to monitor three particularly vulnerable areas – northern Cap Ferret, a wooded corridor around Marcheprime, Cestas and Saint-Jean-d’Illac, and a military site near Martignas.
The advance of other major fires in the Landes and Var departments has been halted, leaving Gironde as France’s biggest remaining wildfire emergency, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez.
The blaze forced around 220,000 people to leave homes and holiday sites at the height of the crisis. Tens of thousands have since been allowed to return, although officials stressed that the danger was far from over.
“The situation remains complicated. That’s clear. We’re not out of the woods,” Gironde prefect Sophie Brocas said.
Authorities ordered a further 4,000 people to leave tourist sites along the Atlantic coast on Tuesday, while allowing 60,000 evacuees to return to three Bordeaux suburbs that had escaped the flames.
Smoke from fires in Gironde and the neighbouring Landes department has also raised particulate pollution levels, while the disruption is affecting Bordeaux’s busy summer tourism season and the surrounding wine industry.
Météo-France said Wednesday was expected to be the hottest and driest day of the week, with elevated fire danger across every region of France.
Drought conditions are affecting mainland France and Corsica, with soil moisture approaching the record lows recorded in August 2022.
More than 1,160 square kilometres have burned across France since the start of the year, according to the Interior Ministry.
Coordinated response
The EU plays a coordinating role during major wildfires, although national governments remain primarily responsible for prevention and firefighting.
Brussels can organise the deployment of aircraft, helicopters and ground crews supplied by member states when a country requests assistance.
It also operates the RescEU emergency reserve, which currently includes 22 firefighting aircraft and five helicopters contracted from European countries.
By Tuesday, the EU had coordinated the deployment of seven aircraft and four helicopters to France, as well as six aircraft and three ground firefighting teams to Spain.
The bloc also stationed more than 770 firefighters in countries considered at particularly high risk before the summer began – the largest such deployment to date.
Lahbib said governments should not focus solely on purchasing aircraft and other firefighting equipment. They should also devote more EU funding to clearing vegetation, managing forests and teaching people which activities can trigger fires.
Around 90 percent of wildfires are linked to human activity, including abandoned campfires and discarded cigarettes.
“The scale and intensity of these disasters mean we will need to confirm strengthening our collective capacity,” Lahbib said.
The European Commission has proposed more than doubling EU crisis-response funding to €10.7 billion under the bloc’s next long-term budget. EU governments have suggested reducing that figure to €9.1 billion during negotiations.
The EU is also creating its own permanent firefighting fleet, with 12 Canadair aircraft and five helicopters expected to be delivered between 2027 and 2030.
(with newswires)
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