The second biggest fall in the number of firefighters despite the increasing risk of fires due to climate change was recorded in Cyprus according to analysis by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)
Reduction of the number of firefighters in 12 EU member states in 2023, including Cyprus which recorded the second strong> greater decline, despite the increasing risk of fires due to climate change, records an analysis by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), on the database from the EU Labor Force Survey, which was also recently presented by Eurostat.
According to the data, 362,400 firefighters were employed in the EU in 2023, a number that was increased by 3,200 compared to 2022. However, despite this overall increase, declines were recorded in the majority of countries for which data is available, including Cyprus, Greece and Italy.
These countries experienced massive fires > that year, which was actually the second warmest in the history of Europe.
In Cyprus there was a decrease of 561 firefighters in 2023 (1400 from 1961 in 2022), corresponding to a decrease of 28.6%. The country with the biggest decrease was Lithuania (-50.1%) while in third place was Finland >(-28%).
In a statement the ETUC calls on the EU and the member states not to worsen the situation by returning to austerity, recalling that recently the Commission launched the “excessive deficit procedure” for a quarter of the states members, which risks pushing them into further cuts.
According to the European Trade Union Confederation, the EU must invest in making the transition to a green economy fair, so as to create quality jobs and financially support public services.
ETUC is made up of 93 trade union organizations in 41 European countries, as well as 10 European trade union federations, representing around 45 million members.
According to the data, 2023 was the second consecutive year in which a decrease in the number of firefighters in Germany was recorded, Hungary, Romania and Sweden.
“Reducing the number of firefighters at a time when the climate crisis is increasing the risk of fires is not what is needed and is irresponsible,” ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch said.
“These cuts endanger the safety of the public, the environment and the remaining firefighters, who are now expected to face more frequent and more severe fires with fewer resources and less rest,” he added.
The announcement also includes statements by the Secretary General of the European Public Service Union Confederation (EPSU), Jan-Willem Gudrian, who underlined that reducing the number of firefighters at a critical time, amid an increase in fires, puts workers at risk.
« Today firefighters are faced with fires even during the winter, as in Sweden. Something that has never been observed in the past”, he added, noting that despite promises to strengthen the staff, the opposite is happening.
