The European Union nations have agreed to move forward with plans to implement Eastern Flank Watch, a flagship defence initiative to shield the entire European Union from escalating security threats.
The group also agreed on implementing a “drone wall”, as a core part of its defence initiative to counter the daily violations of EU airspace, especially by Russia.
Defence Ministers from the EU frontline countries Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania, attended the meeting, alongside two other EU member states from the Eastern flank, Hungary and Slovakia. High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas and the Danish Council Presidency also joined the meeting.
In a separate session, Ukraine’s Minister of Defence, Denys Shmyhal, shared invaluable, battle-tested expertise, with NATO present as an observer.
The EU’s defence commissioner, Andrius Kubilius, said a drone wall with advanced detection, tracking and interception capabilities is important to protect and serve all of Europe.
In a post on X, Kubilius said, “Daily violations of EU airspace are unacceptable. Russia is testing the EU and NATO. Our response must be firm, united, and immediate.”
“We all agreed: #EasternFlankWatch, with the #DroneWall as its core, will serve all of Europe,” he added.
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He also shared understanding of the Eastern Flank Watch design.
➡️ An immediate priority ‘Drone Wall’, with advanced detection, tracking, and interception capabilities.
➡️ Ground defences, such as anti-mobility systems.
➡️ Maritime security for the Baltic and Black Seas.
➡️ Space-based situational awareness.
Participants have agreed to move from “discussions to concrete actions,” Kubilius said, adding:
➡️ securing political traction ahead of next #EUCO;
➡️ detailed technical roadmap;
➡️ mobilising defence industry;
➡️ EU financial toolbox.
5/5
We agreed to move from concept to concrete actions.Next steps:
➡️ securing political traction ahead of next #EUCO;
➡️ detailed technical roadmap;
➡️ mobilising defence industry;
➡️ EU financial toolbox.My full statement ⬇️
🔗 https://t.co/1jBKUIdWly— Andrius Kubilius (@KubiliusA) September 26, 2025
Friday’s announcement came after “2-3 large drones” were sighted near Denmark’s Copenhagen Airport and Aalborg airport, both in a two-day difference, following which flights were suspended or diverted. A similar event of drone sightings took place at Norway’s capital Oslo airport on Monday evening that forced all the traffic to move to one runway.
The Denmark authorities have linked the sightings as Russian drone incursions that have taken place across multiple countries in Europe, including Poland, Romania, Estonia causing disruptions.
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Multiple Russian drones also crossed into Poland on Wednesday, prompting NATO to send fighter jets to shoot them down and underlining long-held concerns about the expansion of Russia’s more than three-year war in Ukraine.
After Poland, Romania, a member of Western military alliance NATO, scrambled fighter jets on Saturday after it reported a drone incursion into its airspace during a Russian attack on neighbouring Ukrainian infrastructure, the defence ministry said.
The EU commissioner acknowledged the potential mismatch in shooting down drones. He said: “If you are using air, and air missiles from your air fighter to shoot the drone, then you are using … [a] missile which costs 1m to kill the drone which costs 10,000,” as The Guardian reported.
According to a leaked document seen by the Guardian, the European Commission believes it can generate a €140bn interest-free EU loan for Ukraine based on Russia’s immobilised central bank assets without confiscating the funds.
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Kubilius gave no details on funding but an EU official told Reuters that EU heads of state and government were expected to hold “intensive” discussions on the issue in October.
(With inputs from Reuters)
