Von der Leyen Announces EU Heatwave Plan and Firefighting Fleet Work

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU will soon present a European Heatwave Plan focused on earlier warnings, health preparedness, urban cooling and support for vulnerable people. She also asked senior firefighters and emergency responders to develop proposals for new capabilities, including a future European Firefighting Fleet. In her State of the Union address in Strasbourg, she said a broader climate-resilience framework due next month will identify 100 particularly vulnerable European territories. The measures are proposals, not completed programs.