Nicosia: President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, expressed his gratitude towards European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen following her proposal for establishing a new European firefighting hub in Cyprus. The announcement was made during von der Leyen’s State of the Union address to the European Parliament.
According to Cyprus News Agency, President Christodoulides conveyed his appreciation through a message on X, highlighting the importance of the initiative. “Together, proud Europeans! Dear Ursula, thank you for the extremely important announcement for a European firefighting hub based in Cyprus, which will cover our region. Together we are stronger!” he stated.
The Presidency of the Republic of Cyprus also shared its views on X, emphasizing the significance of the proposal. The message described the creation of the firefighting hub as a development of exceptional importance for Cyprus, the European Union, and the surrounding region. It underscored the effort as a strategic move to enhance Cyprus’s role as a pillar of security and resilience within the EU.
The Presidency further elaborated that this initiative marks a pivotal moment, emphasizing Cyprus’s strategic role in European and regional civil protection. It also noted how the hub would bolster Europe’s collective capacity to tackle the challenges posed by the climate crisis.