The European Commission has presented a new drone security action plan and announced a forthcoming legislative “drone security package” to address the rise in unauthorized drone activity over airports and critical infrastructure in the European Union.
The plan targets stricter registration requirements for drones, the expansion and harmonization of no-fly zones around sensitive sites such as airports, power plants and military facilities, and the creation of a European conformity label for drones linked to identification and safety standards. Member states will be required to digitize and harmonize their airspace restriction zones so they can be integrated directly into drone geofencing systems.
The Commission emphasizes the civil security dimension, focusing on police forces, civil aviation authorities and critical infrastructure operators, in complement to existing military counter‑drone programs. The action plan foresees greater use of 5G networks and digital tools, including artificial intelligence, to monitor low‑altitude airspace, detect drones in near real time and distinguish suspicious activity.
Recent incidents include unauthorized overflights of airports causing disruptions to traffic, and flights over energy facilities, industrial plants, military sites and sensitive companies. National authorities in several member states report a steady increase in such events, numbering in the hundreds per year in some regions, reinforcing demands for clearer legal powers to detect, interdict and, where necessary, neutralize drones threatening aviation safety and critical infrastructure.