By Martin Banks

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.

That is the key message in an opinion adopted by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)

The EESC, based in Brussels, says that, at the same time, Europe must develop its competitiveness and strategic resilience in this field while investing in people and skills.

The Committee, which represents civil society at the EU level, says public safety and aviation should remain the first priority when designing and carrying out new European drone security and counter-drone measures.

In the opinion, drawn up by Miroslav Hajnoš, the EESC argues that the end goal of any future EU action on drones must be security and safety for people and aviation.

“The EU must strengthen its drone and counter-drone capabilities to protect critical infrastructure, citizens and public security,” said 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.”

 In its assessment of the proposed EU Action Plan on Drone and Counter Drone Security, the Committee said it 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.”

The opinion reads, “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.”

“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.”

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.

The EESC says, “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.”