European Parliament’s Transport Committee backs new report on drones

The European Parliament’s Transport Committee voted yesterday (15 September) to back a new report which seeks to ensure that any regulation on the use of drones for non-military purposes “takes a risk-based approach, without creating unnecessary burdens for the industry”. The report is being steered by Jacqueline Foster, the Deputy Leader of the UK Conservative delegation at the European Parliament.

National rules on drones exist or are being developed in a number of EU countries but there is currently no EU-wide regulation.

In a statement issued by the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR), Foster commented: “With over two and a half thousand civil drone operators, Europe is leading the world in drone development so I am keen to ensure that the EU takes a flexible and light-touch approach to regulation.

“I am delighted that the committee comprehensively backed my report, which stresses the importance of taking a case-by-case approach to regulation, whilst ensuring that safety is always the top priority”.