EU officials want to set up a legal framework to govern the use of drones, amid safety and security concerns. The European Commission is collecting
EU officials want to set up a legal framework to govern the use of drones, amid safety and security concerns.
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The European Commission is collecting data and proposals from member states.
Drone companies are welcoming the move.
“It requires a lot of harmonization in Europe, so that all the countries will be having the same general basic rules. It has to be done. Because of course now anybody can buy a flying machine and do whatever he wants,” said Emmanuel Previnaire, President of “Flying-Cam.”
French authorities are investigating drone sightings close to sensitive sites in Paris. It is reported the US embassy and Eiffel Tower were targeted.
French law prohibits the use of drones above 150 metres. They also cannot be flown in public, in built-up areas.
“This has an incredible potential from the industry point of view. At the same time we are very much aware of the concerns that people have,” explained Violeta Bulc, European Commissioner for Transport.
“There are more and more drones around us and we do need to set up some sort of framework, a legal framework within which the drones can operate in the future.”
Plans for the new EU directive are expected to be debated in Riga next month.