Call for applications for the selection of members of the informal Expert Group on drones

(update 8/09/2021: The deadline has been extended to 20 September 2021)

In 2017, the Commission's Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport set up an informal group of experts on drones.

The group’s tasks were to:

• Assist the Commission in the identification and conceptual design of the actions judged as the most relevant to support the over-arching objectives of the EU policy on drones, notably those actions addressing the integration of drones in the aviation system and the development of the U-Space;
• Support the Commission in the establishment of the regulatory framework, including the timely delivery of the relevant requirements, operational and service standards;
• Monitor the implementation of the envisaged measures and evaluate their efficacy and impact in terms of market growth and job creation, together with the impact on safety, security, privacy and environmental protection;
• Ascertain funding needs and resources for specific actions and assess their value added in view of the overall objective of creating a drone services market.

Since 2017, the situation of the drone sector has changed significantly.

On the regulatory side, the Commission in 2019 adopted Delegated Regulation 2019/945 on unmanned aircraft systems and on third-country operators of unmanned aircraft systems and Implementing Regulation 2019/947 on the rules and procedures for the operation of unmanned aircraft. A regulatory framework for the U-Space (managing airspace traffic of drones) was adopted on 22 April 2021.

On the industry side, new forms of aerial transport, as well as applications and services including drones are emerging, particularly in the context of Urban Air Mobility. In its recently adopted Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, the Commission announced its intention to adopt a Drone Strategy 2.0 in 2022 to reap the full potential offered by drones to a well-functioning single market. Furthermore, new stakeholders’ groups have been set up, whilst other have ceased to exist. In addition, some organisations expressed their interest in becoming member of the Expert Group.

In the light of the above, the Commission has decided to proceed to a new call for applications with a view to selecting members of the group other than EU agencies and other public entities.

Interested organisations are invited to submit their application through the form:

The duly signed applications must be sent by 9 July 2021 at the latest. The date of sending will be established as follows:

• Where applications are sent by e-mail to the following e-mail address: move-e4-dronesec [dot] europa [dot] eu (move-e4-drones[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu), the date of the e-mail will be the date of sending.
• Where applications are sent by post to the following address: European Commission, DG MOVE, Unit E4 secretariat – 24, Rue de Mot, B-1049 Brussels, the postmark will be considered the date of sending

Register of Commission expert groups and other similar entities.

Contact: move-e4-dronesec [dot] europa [dot] eu (move-e4-drones[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)