We are pleased to announce that our application ‘Cross-border UAS for Search and Rescue’ has been successfully approved under the b-solutions 3.0 initiative. The Association of European Border Regions (AEBR), which is leading the project on behalf of the European Commission (DG REGIO), has pledged expert support for our case – an important step towards the safe and efficient cross-border use of rescue drones in the Alpine region.

From March to July 2025, three renowned experts – two from Italy and one from Austria – will analyse the existing legal and administrative hurdles that make it difficult to use drones in search and rescue missions (SAR) across borders. Their task: to develop concrete solutions to facilitate cooperation between Austrian and Italian mountain rescue services.

Currently, different national regulations hinder rapid and safe response in emergencies. These differences lead to uncertainty: Which flight rules apply when crossing borders? Are special permits required on both sides of the border, which are difficult to obtain in an emergency?

This is exactly where our b-solutions case comes in. The experts will examine what a harmonised legal framework could look like that would enable rescue services to operate quickly and legally across borders in emergencies – whether in search and rescue operations, avalanches, medical emergencies or forest fires. Language barriers and technical standards will also be taken into account.

b-solutions is an EU-funded initiative that has been supporting local and regional actors in breaking down administrative and legal barriers since 2018. b-solutions 3.0 (2024–2026) will continue this approach, focusing on practical solutions for everyday cooperation in border regions.

This expert support will not only strengthen our START Living Lab project, but also create a model that could be significant for the whole of Europe. Because when it comes to rescue, every second counts. And borders should never stand in the way.