According to inside sources, the European Commission proposed on Tuesday, April 8, establishing strict new rules to regulate the operations of civilian drones both for agriculture and for other fields were they can be used.
The new rules will govern the safety, security, privacy, data protection, insurance and liability. The aim is to enable the European industry to become a world leader in this emerging technology market and at the same time to ensure that all the necessary safeguards are taken.
The European countries are increasingly resorting to civilian drones, not only for agriculture but also for other activities, with a fragmented regulatory framework.
The Vice President of the Commission responsible for Transport, Siim Kallas, said that "civil drones can check for damages in the roads and rail bridges, they can monitor natural disasters such as flooding or spray crops with high accuracy. They come in all shapes and sizes, but many people, including myself, have doubts about their safety, security and privacy."
The technology of the civilian drones is improving and chances are this sector will increase and create substantial employment. Some estimates say its value in the next ten years could represent 10 percent of the aviation market, i.e. 15 billion Euro a year.
Streamline research and development and support for this new sector.
The Commission will streamline research and development, in particular the EU funds in this area managed by the SESAR Joint Undertaking, so that the timing of marketing of promising technologies for the insertion remote control aircraft systems in the European airspace is as short as possible. SMEs and start-ups in the sector will aid the industry to develop appropriate technologies (the Horizon 2020 and COSME programs).
Source: hortoinfo.es