17/10/2023 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 17 October, the European Parliament approved, by a large majority, the extension beyond 2024 and until 31 December 2027 of the transitional period for the RescEU reserve firefighting assets, to enable EU Member States to call on these assets in the event of forest fires that exceed their capacity to deal with them. This will cover the time it will take the European Commission to acquire new aircraft, the first of which will not be available until 2027, due to the manufacturing lead time. The report by MEP Sara Cerdas (S&D Portuguese) on this subject was adopted with 612 votes in favour, 3 against and 8 abstentions (see EUROPE 13251/21). The extension will be made by amending Decision 1313/2013/EU of April 2023 on the Union Civil Protection Mechanism. RescEU reserve firefighting assets are located in ten Member States. (AN)