Document: Drones - internal security implications
Topic
Country/Region
19 November 2025
A document circulated by the Danish presidency of the Council of the EU on 11 November sets out internal security issues raised by the use of drones, and outlines measures being put in place by the EU to try to address the problem. The aim is to prepare a discussion due to take place at the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting in December.
Support our work: become a Friend of Statewatch from as little as £1/€1 per month.
Having spent many years and hundreds of millions of euros encouraging the development and use of drones, the EU has for some time also been concerned about the "internal security implications" of the technology.
There have recently been a number of incursions into EU airspace by Russian drones, and the unexplained appearance of drones at airports and military sites across the EU.
A document (pdf) circulated by the Danish presidency of the Council of the EU on 11 November states:
Given the security risks and disruptions such incidents have caused and may cause in the future, there is a need to discuss appropriate measures for law enforcement to address this issue.
The document goes through "instruments in place at EU level," such as the Commission's "Counter-drone Expert Group (C-UASG)" and a plan for "upgrading the existing JRC [Joint Research Centre] living lab for testing counter-drone systems into a Counter-Drone Centre of Excellence."
Substantial funding may also be offered:
...the Commission is currently exploring whether (and how) to provide additional funding to support Member States on counter-drone civilian security capabilities, through a call for a Specific Action to support border surveillance, including drones and counter-drones, for a total amount of EUR 250 million from the Thematic Facility of BMVI [Border Management and Visa Instrument] (possibly through joint procurement). If confirmed, the call could be launched between the end of the year and early 2026.
This would come on top of funding provided through the Horizon Europe research programme.
The document ends with two questions for member state delegations:
1. What are the main challenges faced by law enforcement authorities in responding to the threats posed by drones used for malicious purposes?
2. What action at EU level should be taken in your view to address the internal security implications of drones?
Documentation
- Drones - internal security implications (Council doc. 15128/25, LIMITE, 11 November 2025, pdf)
Our work is only possible with your support.
Become a Friend of Statewatch from as little as £1/€1 per month.
Further reading
Behind closed doors: Europol’s opaque relations with tech companies
As part of its research into the expanding—and largely unchecked—use of AI by EU security agencies, Statewatch delves into largely uncharted territory: Europol’s links with the private sector. A survey of this landscape reveals conflicts of interests, secrecy and opacity, and a whole array of intrusive and invasive technologies that Europol would like to adopt, and make more widely available to European police forces.
€2 billion in 15 years: how Frontex finances Fortress Europe
Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, pays out hundreds of millions of euros every year to EU and Schengen member states. The money supports the agency’s standing corps of border guards, operations at the EU’s external borders, and cooperation with non-EU states, amongst other things. Data visualised here shows the scale and scope of the funding provided by Frontex: more than €2 billion between the beginning of 2008 and the end of 2024.
European money for the war in Gaza: how EU research funding supports the Israeli arms industry
Technologies developed with financial support from Europe are being used in the current war in Gaza, as they have been previously in occupation of Palestinian territory and marginalisation of the Palestinian people.
Spotted an error? If you've spotted a problem with this page, just click once to let us know.