site.btaBulgaria and Six Other EU Countries to Discuss Proposal for European “Drone Wall”

Government representatives from Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Lithuania, Poland and Romania will meet with the European Commission (EC) on Friday to discuss the proposal for the construction of a European “drone wall,” EC Spokesperson Thomas Regnier said here on Monday. Ukraine will also join the talks.

According to the Spokesperson, the meeting will be held online and will focus on a concrete follow-up to the visit earlier this month by EC President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius to countries along the EU’s eastern borders. The need for a European anti-drone system has become more pressing following recent incidents in Poland and Romania.

“Member states remain in the driving seat. We will see what their interest is, how we can assist them, what their capabilities are, and what their needs are. Following this discussion, we will decide on potential next steps together with the member states and Ukraine,” said Regnier.

He added that the meeting will be political in nature and that ministers may also participate. The Commission will listen to the participating countries and assess how it could support the initiative before considering the next steps.