TOGETHER AGAINST WILDFIRES

For 15 years, Interreg Cooperation Day has brought people and communities together to celebrate the value of cooperation across borders.

In 2026, the Interreg IPA Romania-Serbia Programme is continuing this tradition with an event in Orom, Serbia, focused on fire prevention, emergency response and community resilience.

Located in the Municipality of Kanjiža, near the Romanian–Serbian border, Orom is a place where cooperation has a direct impact on community safety. Volunteer firefighters, public authorities and local residents work together to strengthen preparedness and protect people, homes and the natural environment.

Through firefighting demonstrations, practical training, discussions and stories from Interreg-supported projects, the event will show how cooperation can strengthen local response capacities, support volunteer organisations and help communities prepare for common challenges.

The focus is particularly relevant following the wildfires that affected Deliblatska peščara in Serbia during the summer of 2026. As the fires intensified, Serbia activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, prompting the deployment of firefighting helicopters and ground teams from Romania, Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The response demonstrated the value of European solidarity in reinforcing national and local capacities during major emergencies. Firefighting equipment co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg IPA Romania–Serbia Programme was also used by local volunteer crews.

Join us in Orom on 24 September 2026 from 12:00, as we celebrate 15 years of Interreg Cooperation Day and explore how cooperation can help make border communities safer, stronger and more resilient.