{"id":19464,"date":"2018-11-30T16:13:07","date_gmt":"2018-11-30T16:13:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/uncategorized\/2018\/11\/30\/eu-members-seek-common-ground-on-autonomous-weapons\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:24:18","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:24:18","slug":"eu-members-seek-common-ground-on-autonomous-weapons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/unmanned\/2018\/11\/30\/eu-members-seek-common-ground-on-autonomous-weapons\/","title":{"rendered":"EU members seek common ground on autonomous weapons"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BRUSSELS \u2014 European Union foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini says the EU has a \u201cvery special role to play\u201d in addressing growing concerns about the \u201csecurity challenges\u201d posed by autonomous weapon systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As an important regulatory power, the 28-strong bloc can decide \u201cwhat should and should not be allowed\u201d in the field of autonomous weapons, she said Thursday at the European Defense Agency’s annual conference. The gathering drew an audience of 400 attendees representing the European defense spectrum, including governments, armed forces, industry, EU institutions, NATO and think tanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Work is ongoing to define a first set of guiding principles on autonomous weapons, \u201cand this work needs close cooperation between governments, the industry and civil society,\u201d the Italian said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mogherini declared: \u201cHumans must always remain in control of the use of lethal force.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event coincided with a separate conference on drones in Amsterdam where European Aviation Safety Agency executive director Patrick Ky spoke of the \u201cneed to regulate differently on drones, faster and better, encouraging innovation while ensuring safe, secure and socially acceptable operations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t