Brussels: The European Union on Wednesday said it wanted to tighten drone registration, create no-fly zones and ramp up detection at critical sites after a string of unexplained sightings rocked European countries last year.
According to Emirates News Agency, the new action plan announced by the European Commission is meant to cover the civilian sector following the launch of an initiative to build a system of military counter-drone defences last year.
The EU officials stated that as part of the efforts, they plan to step up the mandatory registration of drones across the bloc to better track potential threats. Brussels aims to expand regulation to cover smaller drones, reducing the current lower limit from 250 grammes to 100 grammes.
The Commission also seeks to encourage member states to better map out no-fly zones around sensitive locations, with the ultimate goal of having software block drones from flying in those areas.
To enhance detection, officials expressed their intention to bolster the use of telecoms systems to spot drones and promote the development of AI to monitor potentially suspect flights.
While much of the strategy focuses on tackling drone threats, Brussels also aims to improve regulation and allocate funds to support the development of the bloc’s drone manufacturing industry.
The officials acknowledged that tightening controls over drone flights would not prevent individuals intent on causing issues, but they emphasized that it would help authorities quickly identify legitimate usage.
