As wildfires continue to ravage parts of southern Europe, the European Union's crisis management chief has issued a stark warning: climate change is no longer a distant threat but a present reality. Hadja Lahbib, the Belgian commissioner responsible for crisis management, described the blazes as "the biggest wake-up call" in years, and she had sharp words for those who dismiss the role of global warming.
"Climate change is not knocking at our door. It is here," Lahbib told Euronews in an exclusive interview from France. "They (climate deniers) should come here and see the situation, open their eyes."
Her remarks echo those of EU competition chief Teresa Ribera, who earlier told Euronews that climate deniers are "giving alcohol to alcoholics and telling them it's okay to drive." Ribera described such denial as "dangerous and stupid."
Lahbib spoke after touring the fire-ravaged Gironde region by helicopter, where more than 42,000 hectares have been destroyed in what French authorities describe as one of the country's worst wildfire disasters in decades. The fires have also disrupted local businesses and tourism, with 40,000 businesses affected in the region.
Prevention over reaction
The EU crisis chief argued that Europe must shift its focus from merely responding to disasters to anticipating and preventing them. She defended the European Commission's proposal to allocate €10.7 billion for preparedness measures under the EU's next long-term budget, stressing that Europe must become better at managing risks before they escalate.
"We need to invest more in prevention and preparedness," Lahbib said. "It's not just about having more firefighting planes; it's about forest management, early warning systems, and community resilience."
This year's wildfire season began unusually early, with the Netherlands—not typically considered a wildfire hotspot—becoming the first country to activate the EU Civil Protection Mechanism on 30 April. "The season started on 30 April," Lahbib noted. "We don't know yet how it will end."
The growing number of cross-border requests for assistance reflects what Brussels increasingly views as a continent-wide climate security challenge rather than a series of isolated national emergencies. In recent weeks, France, Greece, Turkey, and Tunisia have all requested European emergency assistance, with mass evacuations along Turkey's coasts and three firefighters dying in Crete.
Structural problems, not just hot summers
Piotr Borkowski, Executive Director of the European State Forest Association, said the outlook for the Mediterranean, particularly the Iberian Peninsula, remains "very negative."
"Early summer heatwaves have caused extreme moisture loss in vegetation, making it much more susceptible to ignition and allowing fires to spread rapidly and intensely," Borkowski told Euronews. "This points to a high likelihood of extreme wildfires developing, at least until the end of the summer season."
Borkowski emphasized that the current wildfire season is not being driven by any single new factor but by long-term structural problems. "The issue is structural and territorial," he said, pointing to inadequate forest management and land-use planning across the continent.
Lahbib's call for greater investment in prevention comes as the EU's Civil Protection Mechanism is being stretched by simultaneous requests. The mechanism, which coordinates cross-border assistance, has been activated multiple times this summer, underscoring the need for a more robust European response.
As the fires continue to burn, the political debate over climate policy is intensifying. Ribera's earlier comments have sparked controversy, but Lahbib's direct challenge to climate deniers signals a growing frustration among EU officials.
"This is our wake-up call," Lahbib said. "We cannot afford to ignore the science any longer."
