If it is true, as some experts claim, that the last drone overflights in the airspace of the Denmark they are tests not only to evaluate but also to "humiliate” the country's air defense capabilities that until December will have the rotating presidency of the European Union, it is easy to understand how Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is doing everything to avoid these episodes from happening again, especially during the informal summit of the 27 European heads of state and government which is being held today in Copenhagen.
The Danish Government has in fact requested and obtained from the French military authorities a help with monitoring of the heavens and yesterday also the United States they sent some equipment anti-drone in Denmark. “We are pleased and grateful that the United States is supporting Denmark with counter-drone capabilities in connection with the upcoming summit,” the Ministry of Defense wrote in a post on X.
Key summits today and tomorrow to strengthen European skies
The safety of European skies, the strengthening of the Eastern front and the crisis in Ukraine will be the central issues at today's informal summit of heads of state and government and tomorrow at the Summit of the European political community. The issue of will not be addressed instead Gaza after Trump's proposal, why is the topic still being defined? too divisive due to the different positions existing among the various Member States. The discussions on defense and Ukraine will serve as a basis for discussion for the European Council actual meeting on October 23rd and 24th in Brussels. Tomorrow's discussion will focus on how to identify priority areas of intervention In view of the 2030 deadline (Readiness 2030, the new name for the ReArm EU plan), joint projects are to be funded, although coordination difficulties have already emerged among the various industry giants: Dassault and Airbus have expressed differing visions on the SCAF (Air Combat System of the Future) project. The €150 billion SAFE projects must be finalized more quickly, with priority given to the countries on the Eastern front most exposed to the Russian threat. An exploratory document prepared by the Commission suggests the creation of an "Eastern Flank Watch" to "strengthen the capacity of EU frontline states to address a wide range of threats," from "hybrid operations" to "drone incursions," from the "Russian shadow fleet" to the risk of "armed aggression." The project “aims to fortify the eastern borders against land, air and sea threats and the Commission assures that it will be fully complementary to the NATO Eastern Sentry, Baltic Air Policing and Forward Presence forces”.
The issue of governance among defense ministers
A third aspect will be the question of governance and strengthened coordination among defense ministers. European Council President Antonio Costa believes that to support the rearmament process and avoid wasting money in the coming months and years, defense ministers should meet more frequently than they do now, and then report back to the European Council.
A separate chapter concerns the so-called “anti-drone wall” The EU is planning this project, even though the timeframe for its completion seems too long. According to the exploratory document, the wall will be designed as "a deep, multilayered zone of technologically advanced systems with interoperable anti-drone capabilities for detection, tracking, and neutralization, as well as the ability to strike ground targets using drone technology for precision strikes."
Russian assets frozen
The other big theme is UkrainePresident Volodymyr Zelensky will hold a video conference with the European Council. The financing of Ukraine and the issue of financing Kiev using cash flows from the EU will be on the table. Russian assets frozen(to date, approximately 170 billion euros) for a loan to Ukraine, which the latter would have to repay to Russia only once Moscow has paid war reparations. A sort of advance on future reparations. The issue is very thorny and calls into question the very reliability of the European financial system, with warnings also coming from the ECB. But, after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also opened up to the possibility of use that money (unlike his predecessor Olaf Scholz), this is no longer a remote possibility, even if it remains a "complex" issue. With the US withdrawal of financial support for Kiev, the EU finds itself having to pay the price for its resistance. A related issue is the renewal of sanctions against Moscow, which must be unanimous for any extension. Costa will raise the issue of how to overcome unanimity to circumvent Hungary and Slovakia's veto against sanctions during today's debate.
The seventh summit of the European Political Community, Organized and hosted by the Danish Presidency, the forum was strongly supported by Emmanuel Macro and is open to non-EU countries such as the United Kingdom and Turkey. The forum will also discuss the security situation in Europe, the war in Ukraine, and how to make Europe a safer place.
