European Commission admits EU drone strategy has fallen short, promises new roadmap for spring 2027

The European Commission, the EU's executive body, has acknowledged that Europe has struggled to turn its drone strategy into large-scale commercial activity. EU Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas made the announcement on 10 November in Brussels at the two-day EU Drone Summit. He said the Commission will present a new implementation roadmap in spring 2027, aimed at removing regulatory barriers, speeding up beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) flights and strengthening Europe's drone industry.

Tzitzikostas presented the findings of the Commission's review of Drone Strategy 2.0. In his words, the original vision adopted in November 2022 remains valid, and the problem lies mainly in implementation. Europe has run many trials and demonstration projects, but they have not turned into commercial drone services at the expected pace.

The announcement echoes a report by the Drone Leaders' Group, published by the Commission on 5 November. The group brings together representatives of industry, aviation authorities and European institutions, and was reconvened in 2026 to assess progress and obstacles.

Fragmented rules hold operators back

The report concludes that the single European market for drone operations exists largely on paper. Although EU rules provide a common framework, Member States apply them differently. Operators who want to use an authorisation issued in one country elsewhere may face extra assessments and lengthy procedures, with some waiting more than a year for approval. Other obstacles include the slow and unpredictable rollout of U-space (airspace services for drones), inconsistent interpretation of risk assessments, and insufficient resources at national aviation authorities and EASA, the EU Aviation Safety Agency.

The group calls for a genuine single market in which authorisations and U-space service provider certificates are valid across the EU without unnecessary reassessment.

Priorities: routine BVLOS and competitiveness

The group says Europe must move from isolated BVLOS demonstrations to safe, routine and commercially viable operations. This requires common digital infrastructure, suitable U-space services, better integration with conventional air traffic management, and harmonised visibility requirements for crewed aircraft flying at very low level.

The report notes that manufacturers outside the EU dominate important market segments. It recommends targeted support for promising industrial segments, including larger cargo drones, and a continuous funding path from research to industrial scale-up.

Funding

The next EU multiannual budget for 2028–2034, currently being prepared and expected to reach almost €2 trillion, is a key consideration. The Joint European Drone Associations (JEDA) argues that funding for commercial drone operations must be explicitly included. The group also recommends measuring progress by real results, such as recurring commercial BVLOS flights, flight hours and approval times.