\u201cThis is a concrete follow-up to President [Ursula] von der Leyen\u2019s announcement, as recent attacks and incursions have already [occurred] in Romania and Poland,\u201d European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier said.<\/p>\n
Von der Leyen had used her State of the Union<\/a> speech earlier this month to support demands for an EU-backed \u201cdrone wall,\u201d arguing the bloc must \u201cheed the call of our Baltic friends\u201d to defend its eastern borders.<\/p>\n The Commission president is expected to propose funding options for the drone wall during an Oct. 1 informal meeting of EU leaders in Copenhagen, two diplomats told POLITICO<\/a>.<\/p>\n The new round of talks on the proposal will take place days after an \u201cunprecedentedly brazen\u201d incident<\/a> on Sept. 19 when three Russian military jets violated Estonian airspace for 12 minutes before being intercepted by Italian F-35s. An incursion by Russian drones into Poland<\/a>\u00a0earlier this month also rocked NATO countries.<\/p>\n \u201cMember states remain in the driving seat,\u201d Regnier stressed at the Monday press briefing.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will see what their interest is, how we can help them, what their capabilities are, what their needs are. Following this discussion, we will decide on potential next steps hand in hand with these member states and Ukraine,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n