The Riigikogu made the Government’s positions on the European Union’s drone action plan stricter
The European Union Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia), taking into account the proposals of the National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu, amended the Government’s positions on the European Union’s action plan on drone and counter drone security, making them more demanding.
According to Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee Peeter Tali, the European Union must act immediately and decisively to establish credible drone capabilities. “In the long term, this is of key importance for both Europe’s competitiveness and its defence capabilities. The rapid development of drone-related curricula, the introduction of engineering and robotics education at the earliest possible stage of schooling, and cooperation among Member States in shaping educational models are of great importance,” Tali said.
“That is why the European Union Affairs Committee added a clause to Estonia’s positions stating that it must be possible to apply for financing for the development of drone-related curricula, centres of excellence, and regional testing capabilities from the existing European Union programmes as well as from the funds of the next budget period, 2028–2034,” explained the Chairman.
Tali also believes that the opportunity to participate in the development of testing capabilities of counter-drone measures is of significant importance to Estonia. “The European Union wishes to support the creation of testing centres for drone and counter-drone technologies in Eastern Europe. This initiative is very important to us, considering the overall security situation, and especially the events of the past six months, not to mention that it would be a great opportunity for our defence industry companies. However, we believe that the testing centre should definitely be located not in Eastern Europe, but in countries on the European Union’s eastern border, that is, in Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, or Romania. We actually have drones flying, and Putin’s regime is actually using electronic warfare tools,” he explained.
Regina Tagger, Adviser of public sector innovation at the Strategy Unit of the Government Office, presented the Government’s positions on the European Union’s Action Plan on Drone and Counter Drone Security at the sitting of the European Union Affairs Committee. The European Union Affairs Committee approved the positions by consensus, taking into account the opinion of the National Defence Committee.
Riigikogu Press Service
Maris Meiessaar
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