Denmark Bans Civil Drone Flights Ahead Of EU Summit
Denmark has imposed a temporary ban on all civilian drone flights from Monday to Friday as it prepares to host an EU summit in Copenhagen. The decision follows several drone sightings over military bases and airports, which triggered security concerns nationwide.
Sightings At Military Sites And Airports
Authorities say the restrictions were prompted by repeated drone activity seen near military installations and the temporary closure of airports over the past week. The Danish transport ministry noted that drones had been spotted at key defence locations, raising fears that hostile devices might be mistaken for legal ones. The ban aims to avoid such confusion.
Penalties And Exemptions
Under the new rule, civilians flying drones could face fines or up to two years in prison. However, the ban does not apply to police, military, emergency, or health-service drones, which may still operate under regulated conditions.
Summit Security And International Response
Denmark holds the rotating EU presidency in the latter half of 2025 and is hosting not only the EU leaders’ summit but also a meeting of the European Political Community. The drone ban is part of heightened security measures. To bolster surveillance capabilities, a German air-defence frigate has been deployed to support Danish airspace monitoring.
Danish officials have not publicly named a perpetrator but suggested that the drone activity may form part of a “hybrid attack”. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen implied that such incursions could be linked to Russia, a claim that the Russian government denies.
