The European Commission is stepping up its support for Member States’ capabilities to deal with drones, with an additional allocation of 130 million euros under the Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI), as announced at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 1 October. This measure forms part of the EU’s efforts to strengthen border surveillance and improve the response to emerging security threats.
The new funding is in addition to an initial allocation of 250 million euros announced in December 2025 and a further 169 million euros made available earlier this year to fund surveillance drones and similar equipment for use by Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency and the Member States. This brings the total funding available for surveillance technology and drone defence under the Home Affairs funds to over 500 million euros.
The funding will help Member States improve situational awareness, better protect external borders and address risks related to unauthorised or hostile drone activity. It reflects the Commission’s broader objective of equipping national authorities with modern tools to strengthen the EU’s external borders and enhance internal security.
It forms part of the Commission’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the EU’s capabilities in the field of drones and anti-drone defence. In February, the Commission launched the EU Action Plan on Drone Security and Anti-Drone Defence, which protects airspace and critical infrastructure against malicious drone threats, including the establishment of an EU anti-drone centre of excellence to support innovation in this field.
It also complements the funding already available to Member States under the European Defence Fund to develop advanced drone and anti-drone defence technologies. Through the ‘Security for Europe’ (SAFE) instrument, Member States have also committed to joint procurement of drone and anti-drone defence systems.
More information: European Commission
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