# EU funds border drones as rights monitors go unfunded

> EU pours millions into border drones while rights monitors face funding cuts.
- Title: EU funds border drones as rights monitors go unfunded
- Summary: EU pours millions into border drones while rights monitors face funding cuts. The EU is funding border surveillance drones but not the independent rights…
- Keywords: asylum, border drones, rights monitors, eu law, funding cuts, politics, world, funds, border, drones, rights, monitors
- Source: EUobserver — https://euobserver.com/242885/eu-pours-millions-into-border-drones-while-rights-monitors-go-unfunded
- Published: 2026-10-15T18:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: eu, asylum, border drones, rights monitors, eu law, funding cuts, politics, world
## EU Commission
The European Commission says asylum seekers arriving at EU borders are now being screened but makes no mention of independent rights monitors required by EU law.
## Ursula von der Leyen
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen stated border procedures are being carried out in a letter to EU leaders meeting in Brussels on Thursday (15 October).
## EU law issues
An annex to von der Leyen's letter highlights broad outstanding issues in implementing new EU-wide asylum laws that kicked into force in June.
## Key takeaway

The EU is funding border surveillance drones but not the independent rights monitors required by law to oversee asylum procedures.