A drone strategy for Europe

Kadir Kasirga (S)

Madam Speaker! Now we are to discuss the drone strategy. We have just discussed aviation issues, where we have had different political views, but here we at least have a joint statement from the committee.

Madam Speaker! We Social Democrats are technology and progress optimists. We believe in the green industrial transition, and we believe that through political priorities and will, we can create the conditions for new innovations.

It is also very important for us Social Democrats, also as decision-makers in this chamber, to be on our toes and ensure that all this with innovations works and flourishes in an orderly manner. Therefore, we welcome the drone strategy for Europe.

What is a drone? That is the question I asked Google. A drone is an unmanned aircraft that, without a pilot, either flies autonomously or is remote-controlled.

Madam Speaker! Until now, drones have mostly been used for surveillance and photography and as entertainment. But as they become more efficient, they can also be used as a means of transport for passengers and goods. The drones have become larger, faster and stronger, and it is high time for us decision-makers and for the researchers to adapt the rules for sustainable transport with drones.

There are drones today that could carry up to 1,000 kilos to deliver goods. They are constantly being developed, and some have a range of up to 250 kilometers per charge. In the near future, we will probably see transport drones flying over residential areas and over commercial premises. But to be a feasible alternative, the drones must become advanced enough to be able to be integrated into society.

Madam Speaker! Drones that are large enough to transport cars or people may seem too costly today, but with all new technology, costs will decrease over time. Already within five to ten years, and, I believe, even with public investments, the technology will become cheaper and ambulance and emergency response drones will become possible and common.

Another positive aspect of drone development is that it reduces land use and improves the social benefit as a sustainable transport system.

Madam Speaker! One of the primary advantages of drones is that they can also be used for all kinds of rescue operations: police, ambulance, or fire defense. Already today, drones can send a defibrillator to your door.

Let me also bring up the environment. Since the drones only use the airspace, they are faster and more flexible than conventional means of transport that use roads or water. They can also combat the climate challenges that exist in several ways.

The increasing use of drones can, however, become a concern for the future power grid. A balance must be reached where we can use drones and other electric modes of transport.

Madam Speaker! At the same time, there is a general concern that drones may also be used by criminals and as a luxury means of transport in the future. Before we have them in the airspace, laws and guidelines must therefore be reviewed in order to protect people's privacy and property. It is also about the drones' impact on the natural ecosystems.

In summary, I want to say that drones will have an important role to play in the society of the future. They can be used to perform dangerous or difficult tasks, increase efficiency in various industries, and increase safety in society. But it is also important to take into account the potential disadvantages of drones and to regulate their use in a responsible manner.

With these words, I welcome this drone strategy.

(Applause)

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Jimmy Ståhl (SD)

Madam Speaker! The use of drones has increased significantly within Sweden and the EU during the last decade. The drone sector is a future industry with great potential when it comes to socially beneficial services, more jobs, and environmentally sustainable solutions to many of today's and future challenges. There is potential for great social benefit within public and private operations, for example, emergency services, inspections, mapping, logistics, and transport.

In order to be able to utilize drones on a larger scale than today, new regulations must be established, and work is currently being done on a common EU regulatory framework, U-space, which is intended to be operational by 2035. This means that drones on a large scale and in an automated and digitized manner shall be integrated into the airspace and, among other things, be able to fly beyond visual line of sight.

Today, the operator is to have the drone within sight when it is operated, but it will soon be conducted flights with drones where Sjöfartsverket sends out drones to check dots and marks and see if they are where they should be or if they have moved. It is a more efficient method than going out with a boat and checking. Moving forward, there are new possibilities, where, for example, in the event of a distress call at sea, drones could be automatically sent out which, before the sea rescue arrives, can send information on how it looks and identify where they are in distress and so on, and perhaps additionally have a lifebuoy.

If a good regulatory framework is put in place, drones will facilitate things for many, from the real estate agent taking photos of houses to large logistics companies. From a Swedish perspective, it is particularly important to consider issues of security, privacy, and the use of airspace. The Swedish characteristic of an integrated civil and military airspace must be taken into account. It is also positive that research and innovation issues, and issues regarding civil preparedness and public acceptance, are clearly highlighted in the European drone strategy.

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Oskar Svärd (M)

Madam Speaker! Drones are a phenomenon that is growing in a broad sense within all social structures. Our time is characterized by the fact that technical development within all sectors of society is moving at a dizzying pace. There is thus potential for great social benefit within public and private operations, for example, emergency services, inspections and mapping, but also logistics, transport and forestry. This places special demands on modern regulatory frameworks and efficient processes that promote and do not hinder this development.

When the question of drones is discussed, there is sometimes a justified fear that the technology is outrunning us all. The possibility for all technical innovations to do good is almost always great. At the same time, there is hardly a single technical innovation that cannot also be used to harm other people. Therefore, issues of aviation safety, privacy, and security are important to include in the development.

Madam Speaker! The goal that the U-space regulatory framework shall be implemented in the entire EU by 2035 remains firm. This means that drones shall be able to operate in the airspace on a larger scale in an automated and digitized manner, and that safety for other aviation, buildings, and people shall also be maintained. With continued regulatory and technological development, not least in order to be able to have systems to see and be seen in a safe way, this development is supported.

Another important part of the work with U-space is the local and regional interest. Sveriges Kommuner och Regioner must take into account issues regarding a large-scale use of drones and their infrastructure in their planning processes - this applies both in the airspace and on the ground.

Madam Speaker! Our task as politicians is to take risks seriously and at the same time embrace the opportunities that exist. If anyone were to think about a drone-free world, I can say that that train left a long time ago. Drone technology is here, and it is here to stay.

The Moderates support the Committee on Transport's review of the European Commission's communication on a drone strategy for Europe. Regarding the measures announced by the Commission, the Committee maintains that the focus should particularly lie on three areas: research and innovation, security and risk awareness, as well as societal acceptance.

These three parts will be crucial for seizing the opportunities of increased drone use while at the same time the risks, such as more movements in the airspace, must be considered. It is, in our view, positive that the committee emphasizes that a certain national specificity must be taken into account when common EU rules are designed, not least when it concerns the Swedish civil and military integrated airspace.

Madam Speaker! We must seize the opportunities. We must strengthen research and technological development. But we must also handle malicious intentions with drones. I believe these are some of the keys to a modern and secure policy for drones.

With these words, I move for approval of the committee's proposal in the report.

(Applause)

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Anders Karlsson (C)

Madam Speaker! It is about a drone strategy for Europe 2.0. When I look at the Transport Committee's report, I see that it is largely welcomed. One is very clear. There is no direct political disagreement here. Three parts are highlighted here. They are research and innovation, security and risk awareness, as well as societal acceptance.

However, there are parts that are emphasized a bit extra. It is about Sweden's national uniqueness, Madam Speaker, and that Sweden is an elongated country that requires some special rules and opportunities. It is also about the civil and military interaction in the airspace.

The development has gone very fast when it comes to drone technology regarding the smaller drones, which we have touched upon today. I myself invested in a drone in 2015 in my agricultural company. The purpose was to use it for monitoring crops and also for livestock supervision. At that time, the technology was mature. There was sufficient capacity and safety. And it was easy to use. This made it efficient.

From 2015 until today, I have seen a fairly rapid development. They have roughly the same capacity, but they are smaller. They are more easy-to-use. This makes it interesting to apply them to even more areas. I see them in the rescue services, often in combination with thermal cameras. I saw a salesperson last week who was measuring solar panels. He used a measuring tool for that. There is, therefore, a large application when it comes to drones.

It is important that the regulatory framework keeps up. Even though I think the regulatory framework for the drones themselves is very good, Madam Speaker, other regulatory frameworks must also keep up. One can take animal welfare, for example. Then one must obtain an acceptance that this is permitted - just as an example. It is then not only the strategy for the drone itself that is important, but also the other part.

The security aspect highlighted from the committee's side is also important. Now, low-altitude flight is being practiced given that we are in a war-like situation. That low-altitude flight is very low. And we see that we can go up to 120 meters with a drone. It is certainly required that a regulatory framework is adjusted to increase safety in the airspace.

Then it concerns research and innovation. For the smaller drones, it is not a problem, Madam Speaker. In a fairly short time, market forces have been very strong when it comes to developing new products and new applications.

One can see that the regulatory frameworks we have today have developed in a positive way. When one is early in a development phase, there is a fear that the regulatory framework will eat up the investment itself, but here, both the EU legislation and the Swedish legislation have actually kept pace in a good way. The legislation we have from 2018 means that there is an open category where one does not need to apply for any permit if the vehicle weighs less than 25 kilos. It is used for a maximum of 120 meters, which can be adjusted. One has full control and can see it so that it does not come too close to people or harm anyone.

When it comes to safety, insurance issues are an important matter to consider when drone technology is used, especially given the proximity to people so that accidents do not occur.

The next part that places somewhat greater requirements is the category called the specific category. It is the same as the open category, but the drones are heavier and deviate in direction, which means that one must apply for permission from Transportstyrelsen. Training of the operator is also required here.

There is also a certified level. That is when the wingspan exceeds three meters, and then we are up at the somewhat larger drones. For the smaller drones, development is moving fast today, but it is for the larger aircraft that we will see the major change in development. The large drones are beginning to approach the smaller electric aviation.

This is an exciting area, but it requires a completely different type of investments. It requires runways where one can land, and it also requires battery charging in a completely different way.

This is climate-smart. I see that the technology with drones is highlighted until 2030, which aligns well with the environmental decisions that exist. The more we use the technology, the more we strengthen the environment. Not least, it can complement both passenger transport and freight transport as part of effectively reaching out with goods where it might otherwise be a bit difficult.

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Magnus Oscarsson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Now we are not going to debate Bromma Airport, but instead we are going to debate a strategy for drones in Europe. I want to start by moving for the approval of the committee's report. It is pleasant and positive that we have a consensus in the committee.

The use of drones has increased significantly in Sweden and the EU over the last decade. The drone sector is a future industry with great potential for socially beneficial services, with several new jobs and environmentally sustainable solutions to many of today's and future challenges.

There is potential for great social benefit within public and private operations, for example, blue-light services, inspections and mapping, but also within logistics and transport. Just as we heard earlier from MP Anders Karlsson, drones are used today within agriculture and forestry, for example, in inventorying attacks of the spruce bark beetle and monitoring of animals, and within fire defense. I was in Israel a few months ago, and there I saw how drones are used within agriculture and plant protection.

Madam Speaker! It is an industry characterized by rapid technological development, which also places special demands on modern regulatory frameworks and efficient processes that promote and do not hinder development. At the same time, issues regarding aviation safety, privacy, and security must be in focus.

Regularly, the development has proceeded very quickly since the foundations for a common EU drone regulatory framework were decided in 2018. The common EU regulatory framework can create a common European basis to continue releasing the potential for drones and contribute to more companies and jobs, as well as to a sustainable transition of the transport sector with innovative services.

Madam Speaker! Continued regulatory development at the EU level is a core issue. In this way, we have a common playing field throughout the EU, which is positive for our companies. From a Swedish perspective, it is particularly important to consider issues regarding security, privacy, and the use of airspace. Consideration must be given to the Swedish characteristic of civil-military integrated airspace.

It is also positive that research and innovation issues and issues regarding civil preparedness and public acceptance are clearly highlighted in the European drone strategy.

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Daniel Helldén (MP)

Madam Speaker! It is interesting that we have had a long discussion on aviation issues, and a drone strategy is actually just an extension or development of that.

We have seen drones in the sense of quadrocopters for a long time, and many have played with them, probably flown them, worn goggles, and seen how they work. We can see today that drones are used in the war in Ukraine, and we see tests with personal drones, so-called EVTOL. I do not know if one can come up with a Swedish name for these aircraft, but they are actually small electric airplanes. Such things exist, and it is a very interesting development.

This has, among other things, been discussed in Norrköping and Linköping, with transports between them and tests, and there has also been talk in Stockholm about trying to fly from Stockholm's center to Arlanda, as passenger transport.

We are not quite there yet, but now we have a drone strategy at the EU level which is absolutely excellent because we can start the work of developing the drones even further. Previously, we have mostly seen limitations, so that we get a drone strategy and that the development of these things can now proceed is absolutely excellent.

For the work, we in the committee point out, among other things, issues regarding research and innovation, which is completely central to continuing with this. We talk about risk awareness and security, which I believe the public thinks about most when drones are discussed. The concept makes one think of relatively large things that happen to crash into houses in other countries.

We will need to have traffic rules for drones. We need training of different types of operators for them. We need to develop safety systems to address security risks that exist already now. We need to have marking systems for the drones. We must also create a good form of societal acceptance because it is something new that will be flying over our heads. If one goes out in the city today here in Stockholm, for example, there could be a drone hovering somewhere. They are quite small things, but what we can foresee – that they can carry a ton – is something completely different. There, the public must be able to feel safe.

I think we should be positive about this development and ensure that it moves forward. I mean that there is a small problem in this context. The Transport Agency has pointed out something called UAS zones, which are test zones that have been established in Västervik in Kalmar län. It is good that there is a place, but I believe that one would actually need more places where one can test and try these things in order to create new flight zones and spaces in the airspace where they can proceed.

Apart from this, we are in agreement in the committee that this is good.

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Helena Gellerman (L)

Madam Speaker! Today's debate concerns the drone strategy that the EU Commission presented last autumn. There has not been much debate in the chamber regarding the drone strategy because we in the Committee on Transport are fairly in agreement.

I am a technology optimist, and I believe that many of the problems we see today will be solved with new technology. Therefore, it is very interesting to see the emerging technology for vehicles in the air. Especially interesting is the development of electric vehicles, where we move from small drones to more advanced drones, further on to drones that can transport people, and then to electric aviation. This amount of new vehicles in our airspace will affect our transport system. Here, as in all debates, it is important to point out that all types of traffic are important and solve their parts of our transport needs. It is the whole that must function.

The drone sector is an industry with great potential for new socially beneficial services, and it will offer sustainable solutions for many of today's and future challenges. It is already used today in emergency services and for inspections, for example in forestry and agriculture. In Africa, drones have been a game changer for finding poachers. Drones have also been tested on a smaller scale for the delivery of goods and have great potential to send smaller goods out into rural areas in a fast and energy-efficient way.

There is a rapid technological development, and here politics must be offensive because the technology challenges old laws and places specific demands on a changed regulatory framework as well as efficient processes that promote, rather than hinder, development. At the same time, the technology also raises questions about aviation safety, privacy, and security. Those questions need to be addressed. As recently as last week, we could read about drones that, despite increased readiness, could fly over protected objects in Sweden. We must review this.

When it comes to our airspace, it is important that it is at the EU level that we create common rules. For drones, the first EU-wide regulatory framework was already decided in 2018. This has since been followed by the drone regulation in 2019 and the U-space regulation in 2021. Here, the EU has truly been on its toes to make it possible to manage drones. The EU regulatory framework has created a common European basis to be able to exploit the potential of drones, create new companies, and develop innovative services.

The goal is to be able to apply the U-space framework throughout the EU by 2035. This means that drones on a large scale and in an automated and digitized manner shall be integrated into the airspace, including flying beyond visual line of sight, that is, where one can no longer see the drone. It is good that a common goal is set that we can cooperate on how we can realize together, because there will be many challenges along the way.

It is here that the European Commission's communication A Drone Strategy 2.0, which was presented last autumn, comes in. The drone strategy announces 19 flagship measures to realize the Commission's vision for the drone sector in the EU until 2030. During 2023, this involves, for example, developing a number of standard scenarios for applications for drone permits. It also concerns developing regulatory frameworks for the most advanced drone operations.

A drone strategy for Europe

The potential for drones is great, and Sweden is an innovative country that can be at the forefront and create many new companies. At the same time, it is important to consider issues regarding security, privacy, and the use of airspace. In Sweden, we have a civil-military integrated airspace that we must take into account. We received good information about this when the transport committee visited Luftfartsverket earlier this year. There are also national rules regarding geographical information photographed from aircraft, for example drones. How should this be further developed? Then we must also take into account the security situation in our surrounding world. How does it affect? Who can collect information about our country?

It is also positive that research and innovation issues, issues regarding civil preparedness and public acceptance are clearly raised in the European drone strategy. Just public acceptance is important to take into account. How do we introduce the new technology in a positive way so that people do not feel that they are being monitored from the air?

The EU's new drone strategy emphasizes the importance of the cooperation required between different authorities but also at different decision levels for the strategy to function. Our municipalities and regions must account for issues regarding large-scale use of drones and associated infrastructure, both on the ground and in the airspace, and take them into account in their planning processes.

A drone strategy for Europe

Madam Speaker! We Liberals are very positive about the new drone technology and that the EU already has a number of regulatory frameworks for drones, which means that those who develop new drone technology know the boundary conditions for how they can operate. It removes much uncertainty and drives development. At the same time, we politicians must be open to continuing to change the legislation as new innovations emerge.

The deliberation was hereby concluded.

(Decisions were made under § 17.)

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