Background: A massive wildfire in Gironde, France, forced 220,000 evacuations and has stopped growing but is not yet contained. Tourist numbers in Gironde have fallen by 50% since late July, with at least 27,000 employees applying for partial unemployment. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is visiting the area on Monday to assess damage and discuss reconstruction, accompanied by Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard, and Tourism Minister Serge Papin. Business owners report catastrophic losses, with one hotel owner citing a 60% drop in bookings in Bordeaux and 63% in Pauillac. The Medef is calling for full state coverage of partial unemployment and state-guaranteed loans, arguing that failing to help businesses will cost the state more in lost taxes. The state has already allocated 300,000 euros for urgent municipal works.

Background: A massive wildfire in Gironde, France, forced 220,000 evacuations and burned 42,000 hectares, halving tourist numbers and prompting a government reconstruction mission. On August 17, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu visited Gironde to announce a €12 million aid package for local authorities in Gironde and Landes, with €10 million for Gironde and €2 million for Landes. He also promised expedited building permits for reconstruction within one month, full property tax and business tax exemptions for affected businesses, and social security contribution exemptions for three months. Lecornu warned insurers that non-cooperative companies would be publicly named, and noted that total costs could exceed €100 million. His visit was met with boos from over 200 residents in Le Porge, where 183 homes were destroyed, who demanded direct dialogue; Lecornu defended his approach, saying he preferred concrete action over photo opportunities. Later that evening, Lecornu met President Macron at Fort de Brégançon to coordinate the response, and Macron pledged that the Var would receive the same aid measures as Gironde.

Background: Europe has been experiencing severe summer heat waves causing over 10,000 excess deaths, power cuts, and wildfires, straining energy grids and highlighting summer energy security risks. Today: Successive heatwaves and a continent-wide drought have caused an 'unprecedented crisis' for European farmers, with catastrophic harvests in France, Italy, and Spain. In France, vegetable production has fallen sharply, with shortfalls of 25% for courgettes, 35% for lettuces, 40% for peas, 60% for broccoli, and 50-100% for artichokes, prompting Prince de Bretagne to declare a 'historic crisis'. The maize harvest is expected to drop 35% to about 9 million tonnes, a level last seen in 1980, partly due to farmers switching to sunflowers. Milk yields are down 10-15%, hay production is 30% below the 1989-2018 average, and egg output is down about 1 million eggs per day. In Italy, 60% of farmland is affected by drought, with crop yields and milk production down 20%, and the overall cost estimated at over €3 billion. The Po valley is severely impacted, with rice growers irrigating only on alternate weeks. Spain reports cereal harvests down 24-49% in key regions, and sheep and goat milk production down 6.5% and 10.8% respectively. Governments have pledged aid packages, including €145 million from France.

Business groups in Gironde, including Les Entrepreneurs and the Bordeaux-Gironde Chamber of Commerce, have criticized the French government's aid package for businesses affected by the recent wildfires. The package, announced by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, includes €10 million in financial aid and three-month social security exemptions, but business leaders argue it does not cover revenue losses. Some business owners are considering closing down, and the CCI president warns that a segment of the local economy may simply stop operating.

Stéphane Delpeyrat-Vincent, mayor of Saint-Médard-en-Jalles in Gironde, criticized the French government's €10 million aid package and three-month social contribution exemptions for businesses affected by the July wildfires as inadequate 'band-aids.' He called for a national climate adaptation plan and criticized the government's response to the fires that burned 42,000 hectares. The mayor's remarks came during a ministerial visit led by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, who announced the measures.

Background: French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez previously defended the aerial firefighting fleet amid criticism over Canadair order cancellations. Today, a leaked recording from a meeting with firefighter unions revealed Nuñez called the government's public stance on sufficient resources a 'posture'. Nuñez dismissed the word as a 'maladresse' and denied any double discourse, while Prime Minister Sébastien Lercornu backed the government's record on increasing firefighting means. Mediapart released the recording, in which Nuñez described the government's public stance on sufficient firefighting resources as a 'posture'. Nuñez responded, calling the word a 'maladresse' and denying any contradiction with his public statements, while criticizing the 'savage' recording. He reiterated that the aerial fleet has doubled since 2022 and that his comments did not question the adequacy of resources. Prime Minister Sébastien Lercornu also defended the government's record on increasing firefighting means since 2017.

Background: A European heatwave has driven deadly wildfires across Greece, Spain, Belgium, and Portugal, with three deaths reported and widespread evacuations. Today: The EU has deployed additional firefighting assistance to Belgium and Spain, while French PM Sébastien Lecornu visited the Gironde region, pledging €12 million in aid and reconstruction support. Belgium's largest wildfire in the High Fens remains partially contained with international help, and Greece is battling new fires while downgrading its wildfire risk. The UK is also dealing with aftermath of a wildfire that destroyed homes, and officials warn of potential autumn floods. On Monday, the European Commission deployed additional firefighting assistance through its civil protection mechanism: two Swedish planes to Belgium, helicopters from the Netherlands, Norway, and Germany, and 104 French firefighters with 36 vehicles to Spain. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu visited the Gironde region, was booed by residents in Le Porge, and pledged €12 million in aid, fast-tracked reconstruction, and tax relief for affected businesses. He also warned of potential autumn and winter floods linked to the wildfires. In Belgium, King Philippe visited the coordination centre, and firefighters reported limited spread due to rain and favorable winds, though terrain challenges persist. Greece saw new fires near Athens and on Salamis island, with the Salamis blaze largely extinguished; the country's wildfire risk is set to be downgraded to level 2. The UK's housing secretary visited fire-damaged homes in Stourbridge, and the Met Office forecast heavy showers and potential surface flooding. In France, residents of Le Porge, where 183 homes were destroyed, accused authorities of prioritizing wealthier areas like Cap-Ferret and plan to file complaints for 'truth, transparency, and justice.' The Landes fire near Luglon was brought under control, allowing 250 evacuees to return. In Belgium, the High Fens fire continued to spread overnight but was limited by favorable winds and rainfall; two police helicopters and air support from the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, and Sweden were expected to assist. Germany's Defense Ministry announced sending two military water-bombing helicopters, and 30 residents in Monschau were evacuated but later allowed back. In Greece, 41 forest fires broke out in 24 hours, with three still being tackled; the Salamina fires were nearly extinguished after killing two and forcing boat evacuations of nearly 500 people. In Spain, the Aragon fire destroyed 16,600 hectares and threatened a 1,000-year-old monastery. In Portugal, five firefighters were injured when their vehicle caught fire near Dine, with other fires at Boticas and Chavez. In Croatia, four people were arrested for starting fires in Zadar, and a fire in Omis that forced 1,000 evacuations was stabilized, with one death and 40 injuries reported. The EU's Copernicus confirmed western Europe's hottest June-to-July period on record.

French President Emmanuel Macron has pledged to extend the same aid measures to wildfire-affected communes in the Var department as those announced for Gironde and Landes. Cathy Venturino-Gabelle, mayor of Barjols, welcomed the announcement, noting that local businesses and tourism have suffered due to cancellations. She called for exceptional funding for road reconstruction and faster insurance payouts. The fires in the Var destroyed two houses in Barjols and damaged about twenty more, with nearly a hundred affected across the department.