Deputies pass legislative initiative aimed to regulate measures for controlling use of national airspace

 Deputies in the plenary session on Wednesday passed the draft law on controlling the use of national airspace, aimed at regulating measures in this regard.There were 199 votes in favour, 99 against, and two abstentions.The legislative initiative aims to regulate measures for controlling the use of national airspace, establishing the authorities and institutions responsible for taking preventive and counteraction measures related to the use of national airspace by aircraft, unmanned aerial systems, and other aerial vehicles. A new framework for cooperation and coordination will be created at the level of authorities and institutions responsible for managing and monitoring national airspace, as well as ensuring compliance with the rules for its use. This contributes to increasing aviation safety and security.According to an amendment, certain situations will be classified as unauthorised use of national airspace, including: when air traffic units or military surveillance and control services receive information about an illicit intervention on board an aircraft, even if the authorisation is respected; when information is received about hazardous substances or materials on board that could be used for terrorist acts; and when information is received regarding goods or individuals on board the aircraft subject to restrictions based on international treaties or sanctions applicable to Romania.Public and private entities that own, operate, or manage facilities requiring protection against threats from unmanned aerial systems will be obligated to implement and maintain protective measures for these facilities, according to another amendment.The draft law also stipulates that, through a decision by the Supreme Council for National Defence, measures will be established for protecting certain objectives against specific threats posed by unmanned aerial systems, along with the general technical requirements for equipment and systems, proposed by structures within the national defense, public order, and national security system.Within 60 days of the law's entry into force, the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, the Ministry of Economy, Digitisation, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, the Romanian Intelligence Service, the Foreign Intelligence Service, the Special Telecommunications Service and the Protection and Guard Service will approve joint orders regarding the general cooperation framework for measures to be taken in cases of unauthorised use of national airspace, procedural aspects for coordination, as well as technical and operational standards for the necessary protection equipment and systems, which will be published in the Official Journal of Romania.