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EU Pours €130 Million Into Border Surveillance Drones
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The European Commission is adding €130 million ($146 million) to an EU scheme that helps member states buy drones and counter-drone systems, as part of a broader push to strengthen border oversight.
The announcement brings total European Union investments in border surveillance tech past €500 million ($563 million), as reported by Euronews.
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The funding allocation was introduced during a meeting of justice and home affairs ministers in Luxembourg, marking their first face-to-face talks on border management and migration since the crisis in Ceuta earlier this summer.
EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner emphasized that deploying emerging technologies like drones is vital for both securing external boundaries and safeguarding critical infrastructure.
Back in February, the Commission rolled out an action plan addressing drone-related security and counter-drone mechanisms, offering national governments €250 million ($281 million) in funding for monitoring land and sea borders, according to Euronews.
That initiative covers up to 90% of costs for projects including drone purchases, anti-drone installations, system integration into national networks, and tools designed to mitigate hybrid threats.
Brussels separately directed €170 million ($191 million) to the EU border agency Frontex and national agencies through the Border Management and Visa Instrument to buy unmanned monitoring gear.
At the same time, Greece suggested temporary suspensions on the right to apply for asylum during emergencies caused by mass irregular migrant arrivals. The proposal holds backing from member states including Poland, Germany, Austria, and Denmark.
Brussels is also expected to widen the scope of Frontex, particularly in handling crisis responses and monitoring digital hybrid threats, with a mandate review planned for later this year. European leaders will further address migration policy and border governance during the European Council summit set for October 15–16, Euronews reported.
Germany had recently partnered with Kyiv to tap into Ukrainian expertise on Russian hybrid warfare.
Under a new security agreement, Ukrainian specialists will share operational experience in counter-drone defense, counterespionage, and cybercrime, with German police set to train at specialized counter-drone facilities inside Ukraine.
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