Slovakia will join the first discussion on the “drone wall” to be held under the presidency of European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius on 26 September. This was announced by EC speaker Tom Renier at a briefing at the European Commission, reports Radio Liberty’s correspondent in Brussels.
Earlier, on 22 September, Renier submitted a list of participants from frontline countries, among which only Hungary and Slovakia were missing.
In addition to the previously named countries, which are Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Slovakia and Denmark will also take part in the discussions.
“We have added Slovakia to this list, we have added Ukraine, which of course is fully involved because of its experience, and of course Denmark will also be fully included in these discussions. It will also be an opportunity to re-emphasise and discuss the latest developments in Denmark,” the European Commission speaker said.
“The first meeting is precisely with the frontline states. Let’s see what they already have to offer. If they want to, they will put it on the table. Let’s see what the European Commission can do to help,” Renier added.
EU officials, who were not authorised to comment to the media, said Slovakia had not been invited but had asked to take part in the discussion. Hungary has also not been invited, but discussions are underway regarding their participation. It will be a meeting at the level of defence ministers and a NATO representative will also take part in the meeting. The meeting will take place online.
In an interview with EURACTIV, European Commissioner Kubilius said that it would take about a year to realise the Drone Wall.
“We have two directions. The first is the detection of approaching drones. This is not easy at all. We’re not talking about big fighter jets or aeroplanes, we’re talking about the latest technology. We have to be able to detect these drones. The second direction is what we will do to counteract these drones,” explained the speaker of the European Commission.
Earlier, the European Commission assured that Ukraine would be part of the EU project “drone wall” along the eastern border of the European Union. The EU started talking about the intention to create such a defence after the mass interference of Russian drones in Russian airspace.