On Monday 8 December in Brussels, the interior ministers of the EU Member States will discuss the implications for internal security of the increasing use of drones and recent incidents in Europe.
On 4 December, further drone overflights of French naval installations were reported, and on 5 December, air traffic at Brussels airport was again briefly interrupted after drones were detected.
In a note dated 11 December, the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU explained that the knowledge and technologies underpinning drone production are evolving rapidly under the impetus of various international players, making it even more difficult to detect, track, identify and – depending on the circumstances – neutralise them, despite the development of effective anti-drone systems.
The many facets of this issue include the protection of Europe's critical infrastructures, air transport security, hybrid threats and defence capabilities, continues the memo.
On Monday, the Presidency will therefore ask the ministers what measures at EU level might be necessary to better counter these incidents.
In this note, the Commission highlights current projects, such as Horizon Europe Cluster 3, which supports security projects relating to drones and drone warfare. From 2028, the European Competitiveness Fund could also support the development and deployment of European civil, dual-use and defence solutions. The Commission has also recently released €250 million to support national projects.
“Law enforcement agencies (JAI) also facilitate the activities of law enforcement authorities in relation to drones”.
The EU Innovation Pole for Internal Security, led by Frontex and involving the Commission and Europol, has launched a thematic group focusing on unmanned aerial systems and anti-UAS technologies.
Since 2022, Frontex and the European border and coast guard community have also been actively engaged in research and innovation “to counter the growing threat posed by drones at the EU’s external borders”.
The Member States “have also already examined the future role of Frontex in supporting Member States facing instrumentalisation and other hybrid threats, such as the recent violations of airspace by drones and other flying objects used for smuggling, provided that Member States so request”. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)