EU ups drone cooperation amid hybrid threats

The European Union (EU) is getting ready to counter drones more effectively. The commissioners for Tech Sovereignty, Transport and Internal Affairs presented a new strategy on Wednesday, February 11, in Strasbourg. The aim: boost resilience and cooperation among member states. 

A series of foreign drone and balloon incursions across the EU in 2025 has added urgency. In September, an unprecedented wave of Russian drones entered Polish airspace and were shut down by the military. In Denmark, airports temporarily closed after unidentified drones were spotted overhead. 

A new drone and counter-drone strategy for the EU 

With the new plan, the Commission wants to strengthen Europe‘s ability to prevent, detect and respond to malicious drone activity. It focuses on improving coordination between EU countries, drone detection systems and tightening rules for civilian drones. Among the proposals are a counter-drone center of excellence, better tracking and risk assessment tools and joint procurement of counter-drone technology.   

The plan also aims to push Europe’s drone industry to increase production and technology innovation. Additionally, the strategy seeks to deepen coordination between civil actors and the military to better protect critical infrastructure and borders.  

Hybrid threats from drones have often taken place around civil infrastructure, like airports, ports or energy infrastructure, Henna Virkkunen, the EU‘s commissioner for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, tells DW.  

“That’s why it’s important that now we are combining different actions and that the private sector, our civilian authorities and the military are working together,” she said. “That’s how we are able to really identify, detect and also eliminate the drones if needed.”  

EU ‘getting more involved in security’

In many ways, the new EU strategy builds on work already in progress. But it also signals a stronger focus on security policy, says Chris Kremidas-Courtney, senior visiting fellow at the European Policy Center.   

“It’s a serious plan. This is the European Union getting more involved in defense and security,” they told DW, adding that the plan for a sovereign European command and control capacity to track and engage drones in Europe was a level of ambition they hadn’t seen before.  

At the same time, the security expert cautions that much of the strategy document remains regulatory rather than operational.   

“A lot of the language has to do with risk assessments and certification schemes,” Kremidas-Courtney said — suggesting the EU is still operating largely within its regulatory comfort zone.

Looming hybrid threats add urgency  

For Kremidas-Courtney, the airspace incursions seen in 2025 accelerated political momentum.  

“Seeing drones flying around [EU] airports has added urgency to” the issue of drone defense, they said.  

Still, they argue that Europe would have moved in this direction eventually anyway, as drone warfare and hybrid tactics are playing a front and center role in modern security threats. 

Europe a fragmented landscape 

Drone defense across Europe remains patchy.  

“[France], Germany, Poland, Sweden have really good capabilities. And Greece, as well has really good capabilities for defending against drones for specific places,” Kremidas-Courtney said. “But most of our member states don’t have enough sensors. We don’t have enough shooters” to take down hostile drones. 

The new strategy aims to close some of those gaps, although many of the measures will depend on voluntary participation by member states. 

Better information sharing is central.  

“We have to be able to share information, if there is that kind of incidents,” Virkkunen said.  

The plan includes an annual European drone security exercise to test cross-border coordination in practice.

Pressure to move faster on defense

The strategy comes as the EU and NATO ramp up broader defense efforts. Growing global instability and shifting alliances are putting pressure on Europe to move more quickly on defense — something the bloc is not necessarily known for. 

“If we don’t move fast enough, I think in two or three years we might find ourselves in a situation where we will wish we had moved much faster,” Kremidas-Courtney warned. 

EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs Magnus Brunner acknowledged that during the presentation on Wednesday. 

“We have often been too slow, and surprised by drones as a threat,” Brunner said. “I think we must work together to use drones as a strategic advantage, because we have the technology and the resources to do so.” 

At the same time, the Commission hopes the new plan will give European drone manufacturers a push, as member states are encouraged to scale up drone and counter-drone production. 

In a year marked by rising geopolitical tensions and renewed questions about reliance on the United States under President Donald Trump, strengthening Europe’s own drone capabilities is increasingly seen as part of a broader push for strategic autonomy. 

Interview with EU Commissioner Henna Virkkunen conducted by Christine Mhundwa.

Edited by: Carla Bleiker