As of today, EU rules establishing a dedicated airspace for drones known as the U-space become applicable, allowing operators to provide a wider range of services. The U-space creates conditions for both drones and manned aircraft to operate safely and will allow the industry to continue scaling up the market for the drone industry and services. The new rules will notably help carry out more complex and longer-distance operations, particularly in low-level and densely operated airspace, and when out of sight of the remote pilot. Such operations can cover vital services, for instance the transport of medical samples, assistance to first responders at an emergency scene, but also remote infrastructure inspections. The Commission adopted the legal framework for this unmanned traffic management system in April 2021. It is a concept unique to Europe, having been first developed in 2016, demonstrating EU leadership in this field. (....)