The defence of the European Union, and in particular the establishment of a ‘European drone wall’, was the main topic of discussion at the informal Summit of European leaders in Copenhagen on Wednesday 1 October, which was held under enhanced security following the intrusion of unidentified drones into Danish airspace in recent days.
Although the Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, did not name the “perpetrator” of these intrusions, she did speak of a “hybrid war against Europe”. The overflight follows a number of other incursions by Russian drones and fighters into NATO airspace in recent weeks (see EUROPE 13720/1).
The Russian threat thus dominated the Summit and fuelled the day’s main discussions. The morning’s discussions took the form of an orientation debate on the future ‘roadmap’ ‘Preparing for a European Defence’ by 2030, which the European Commission is due to present on 16 October, ahead of the European Summit on 23 and 24 October.
Recognition of the “increased threat” to the eastern flank. Of the preliminary proposals, presented in the form of a ‘scoping paper’ shared by the European Commission on 29 September (see EUROPE 13719/11), ‘Eastern Flank Watch’ (see EUROPE 13706/3) and the much-discussed ‘European Drone Wall’ (see EUROPE 13720/3) were the two subjects that received the broadest, though not necessarily unanimous, support from leaders.
According to the President of the European Council, António Costa, speaking at a press conference, these projects are a “key step” towards the development of common defence preparations, which reflect “the acute threat facing the eastern flank”.
The ‘drone wall’ project, which aims to accumulate a range of technology to detect and intercept drones, is still at an embryonic stage, according to several European diplomats attending the Summit.
Division over the scope of the ‘anti-drone wall’. The Commission’s preliminary proposal is well received by Russia’s close neighbours, such as Poland and the Baltic States, but countries such as France, Germany and the southern European countries have more reservations, particularly about the duration and implementation by the EU rather than by NATO.
Mette Frederiksen was also cautious in front of the press. “We also know that technology is evolving so fast that we can’t have just one idea and believe that it will solve all our problems”. More broadly, she called for a European ecosystem to be put in place, similar to what is being done in Ukraine.
Similarly, on his arrival at the Summit, French President Emmanuel Macron called for a more global approach. “We need early warning systems to better anticipate the threat. They exist technically, but we need to develop them together. Deterrence is needed through the use of long-range firing capabilities, with European ballistic capabilities”, he declared. He also mentioned the importance of nuclear deterrence.
For Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, it would be a “mistake” to consider only the eastern flank and “forget the existence of a southern flank”. These words were echoed by the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, and the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriákos Mitsotákis, who believe that any common European defence project “must take into account the security of Europe as a whole”.
On this point, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stressed to journalists the importance of a “360-degree” approach, with an anti-drone system that could protect the whole continent and that would in particular take into account “the southern flank”.
Ukrainian Expertise. During an exchange with the press, the Latvian Prime Minister, Evika Siliņa, expressed her desire to take advantage of the experience gained in the Baltic countries to coordinate policies and actions within the EU. “We have already dealt with drones (...) We have bought sensors (for detecting drones, Editor’s note) and we are working with Ukrainian experts”, she explained.
Indeed, Ukraine wants Europe to benefit from its “expertise” in anti-drone defence, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated on the eve of the Summit (see EUROPE 13720/3).
More broadly, the discussions between European leaders focused more on strengthening European defence capabilities - including the drone wall - and on governance than on funding issues, which will have to be addressed at a later stage, according to a European source (see EUROPE 13720/3).
In addition, the majority of leaders were in favour of greater involvement by European Defence Ministers. They could meet more frequently in future, between European Summits, to measure progress in terms of defence. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)