Commission hosts first meeting of EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance
The European Commission today hosted the first meeting of the EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance to support a strong drone and counter-drone industry in Europe and Ukraine. The Alliance is an industry led initiative which will strengthen Europe’s and Ukraine’s security by accelerating the development and production of next-generation drone and counter-drone systems and fostering partnerships. It brings together 18 founding members, including manufacturers, innovators, start-ups and scale-ups from EU Member States, EEA EFTA countries and Ukraine.
Andrius Kubilius, Commissioner for Defence and Space, said: “European airspace is being tested with repeated drone violations over airports, military installations and critical infrastructure. In Ukraine, this threat is a daily reality. The challenge we face is not only technological edge but also about speed and industrial capacity to deliver together. We need design cycles in weeks, not months, and countermeasures that keep pace. The EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance will address that gap.”
Launched during the third EU-Ukraine Defence Industry Forum in Kyiv, it is a first step implementing the EU-Ukraine Drone Deal, announced by President Ursula von der Leyen on 15 July as part of the EU–Ukraine Defence Industrial Pact.
The founding members will now take forward the agreed activities. Further information on how to join the Alliance as general members or public partners will be published shortly on the Commission’s website, ahead of a second Board meeting.