Brussels to allocate additional €130 million for drones to protect borders

Additional funding for unmanned systems

During a meeting of justice and home affairs ministers in Luxembourg, the allocation of €130 million was officially announced. These funds will be directed towards the development of drone technologies, which are a key element of the strategy to strengthen border protection and counter hybrid threats.

The significance of new technologies for security

European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner emphasised that modern technologies and unmanned aerial vehicles are of critical importance not only for controlling external borders. In his words, they are indispensable tools for ensuring the security of critical infrastructure facilities.

Implementation of the security action plan

In early 2026, the European Commission presented a special action plan dedicated to security related to the use of drones. The initial budget for this initiative was €250 million. The programme provided for covering up to 90% of member states' costs for purchasing drones and counter-drone systems.

The high level of demand for the programme and the quality of the applications submitted prompted regulators to decide on additional funding for the initiative.

Total investments in border surveillance

In total, the European Union has already invested over €500 million in border surveillance technologies. This amount includes a separate tranche of €170 million designated for the Frontex agency and national border guard authorities.

In addition to financial support, Brussels plans to strengthen Frontex's role in resolving crisis situations. Migration and border management will become key topics for discussion by EU leaders at the European Council summit to be held on 15–16 October 2026.