First and foremost, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who contributed to the fight against this natural disasters. In particular, I thank all the volunteer firefighters who, through their cross-border cooperation, have demonstrated the incredible power of our European solidarity.
We are all aware that fire does not ask for permission. It destroys in an instant what people have worked for their entire lives. That is why I urge that early fire detection and early intervention should be recognized as a new priority.
An immediate response from emergency services is needed while the fire is still under control. In this way, we can limit its negative effects. This can be achieved, among other things, through systematic solutions for real-time information sharing among emergency services, as well as the rapid deployment of appropriate firefighting resources.
I have always emphasized how important it is to harness the potential of the latest technologies. Once again, I suggest making broader use of drones and advanced monitoring technologies manufactured in Europe, as well as supplementing satellite and ground-based surveillance systems with these technologies.
We cannot wait for the next fire season or other climate-related disasters to take place before taking further action. Europe has the tools to tackle fires before they spread. It is about time we start using them. We cannot afford to wait until it is too late again.