The first meeting of the EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance will take place in Brussels on September 11.

Two industry sources confirmed this to Euractiv, according to Ukrinform.

A European Commission official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius would attend the meeting. According to the sources, the meeting will focus primarily on taking stock of the work so far, setting a further work schedule and discussing the group’s initial steps.

Read also: Ukraine to receive new air defense packages from Germany in Sept – Zelensky

The alliance comprises 19 companies. The EU side is represented by ORQA, Indra Group, Fincantieri, WB Electronics/WB Group, Destinus, Delair, RSI Europe, TERMA A/S and Quantum Systems. Ukrainian members include Skyfall Industries, Greentech Harvest, Tencore, Deviro, Vyriy Industry, ATHLON AVIA Research and Production Company, TAF Industries, UFORCE and F-Drones.

One industry source expressed skepticism about the potential results of the meeting, calling it yet another meeting.

In early May, the European Commission issued a call for companies to join the alliance, saying its main goals would be to support European efforts to build a comprehensive European capacity in the field of drones and counter-drone systems.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen first proposed creating a Drone Alliance in her State of the Union address last year, amid a series of announcements aimed at countering violations of the airspace of EU member states.

Since then, the European Commission has established a new defense-industrial partnership with Ukraine, centered on a drone deal. It is intended to provide a single, coordinated framework for cooperation between the EU and Ukraine to facilitate, coordinate and support the full implementation of drone agreements Kyiv has signed with several EU and EFTA member states.

The partnership could receive up to EUR 10 billion in funding from unused funds under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program, von der Leyen said during her visit to Kyiv on July 15.

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