The European Union has rejected a funding request from Estonia and Lithuania for the so-called “drone wall” project, which was planned for deployment along the border with Russia, LRT reported.
The project envisioned the use of drones for round-the-clock border surveillance, as well as the implementation of anti-drone systems to counter hostile unmanned aerial vehicles, including those used for smuggling. Estonia was the main applicant, with Lithuania acting as a partner. Lithuania’s Ministry of the Interior emphasized that the initiative aimed to strengthen the EU’s external border.
Nevertheless, Brussels rejected the application in early March without providing a reason. At the same time, the EU allocated €25 million to Lithuania for the purchase of a helicopter to monitor transit trains traveling to Kaliningrad.
The idea of creating a “drone barrier” was first announced in May of last year. In addition to the Baltic states, the project also planned to include Finland, Norway, and Poland. However, experts expressed doubts about the feasibility of the initiative from the outset, citing limited resources.
Lithuania’s border services continue to develop their own surveillance system, with plans to deploy several drones along the borders with Russia and Belarus.
