Drones – Security and aviation safety must remain top priority in EU action plan

In an opinion adopted at its July plenary, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) emphasises that drone technologies are evolving quickly and that future EU action should prioritise its ability to detect, prevent and respond to malicious activities in the European airspace. At the same time, Europe must develop its competitiveness and strategic resilience in this field while investing in people and skills.

Public safety and aviation should remain the first priority when designing and carrying out new European drone security and counter-drone measures. In its opinion adopted at the July plenary session and drawn up by Miroslav Hajnoš, the EESC argues that the end goal of any future EUֹ action on drones must be security and safety for people and aviation, preserving the operational integrity of the European Air Traffic Management (ATM) system.

In its assessment of the proposed EU Action Plan on Drone and Counter Drone Security, the Committee backs the Commission’s plan, calling it a timely and necessary response to a rapidly changing security environment. The EESC specifically supports the goal of strengthening preparedness, detection and response capacities and deterring malicious drone use. At the same time, the Committee stresses that all measures must remain proportionate and consistent with fundamental rights, privacy, data protection, legal certainty and democratic accountability.

As already pointed out in the opinion on the Drones strategy 2.0, it is vital to have proper coordination between the relevant authorities. This means there must be a clear division of roles between civil aviation authorities, law enforcement, military actors and infrastructure operators. In light of this, the EESC cautions against any transfer of security or law-enforcement duties to Air Traffic Management personnel or other safety-critical staff. It therefore calls on the EU to set up a framework establishing intervention thresholds and permissible counter-measures.

The rapidly changing drone environment

Drones are becoming part of our everyday lives. They are used in agriculture, logistics, infrastructure inspections, environmental protection, emergency services and many other sectors. They bring innovation, new business opportunities and economic growth, but they can also be misused.

Recent events have shown that drones can threaten critical infrastructure, airports, energy networks, public spaces and even national security. The rapid development of drone technologies means that Europe must be prepared to respond to these new circumstances.

‘The EU must strengthen its drone and counter-drone capabilities to protect critical infrastructure, citizens and public security,’ said Mr Hajnoš. ‘On top of this, we need a strong European industrial base, skilled workers and clear rules to ensure that innovation, safety and strategic resilience go hand in hand.’

The EU must boost security and competitiveness

The EESC believes that the EU should focus on five key pillars:

1) Security

Europe must strengthen its ability to detect, prevent and respond to malicious drone activities. Critical infrastructure, transport hubs and public spaces need better protection. In addition, all measures must fully respect fundamental rights, privacy and data protection.

2) Aviation safety

Safety in European airspace must remain the top priority. Counter-drone technologies must be carefully tested, certified and integrated into existing aviation systems. Security measures should never create new risks for aircraft operations or air traffic management.

3) Competitiveness

The drone sector poses not only security issues, but also major economic opportunities. The EU needs to help its researchers, engineers, SMEs and innovative start-ups grow, scale up production and compete globally. For this reason, the Committee supports investment, testing facilities and simpler certification procedures across the EU.

4) Strategic resilience

Europe should reduce excessive dependence on technologies and components from third countries. Therefore, strengthening European production capacities, supply chains and technological sovereignty is essential for both security and competitiveness.

5) People and skills

Technology alone is not enough. Europe needs skilled workers, engineers, cybersecurity experts, AI specialists and drone operators. This is why investment in education, training and skills development must be at the heart of the EU’s strategy. 

Looking ahead, another core element is cooperation. Member States, EU institutions, industry, social partners and civil society must work together. Closer cooperation should also take place with partners such as NATO and Ukraine while respecting European values and Member States’ authority.

Drones will play an ever more important role in Europe’s economy and security in the years to come, and the EU must be ready and well-equipped to remain both secure and competitive.

Background – EU Action Plan on Drone and Counter Drone Security

In February 2026, the European Commission unveiled an EU Action Plan on Drone and Counter Drone Security for a united approach against threats posed by malicious drones.

The plan focuses on the civilian internal security dimension and strengthens civil-military cooperation. It is structured around 4 pillars:

• Prepare: enhancing Europe’s preparedness and resilience against drone incidents
• Detect: boosting capacity to detect malicious drones
• Respond: stronger EU cooperation and solidarity
• Strengthen: Europe’s defence readiness against drone threats

The plan also contributes to developing a competitive and safe European drone market, by supporting Member States through coordinated action and by complementing national measures.