The European Commission Tuesday proposed to set tough new standards to regulate the operations of civil drones, or remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), in the European Union (EU).

The aim is to allow European industry to become a global leader in the market for this emerging technology, while at the same time ensuring that all the necessary safeguards are in place, according to an official statement.

The new standards will cover safety, security, privacy, data protection, insurance and liability.

Civil drones are increasingly being used in Europe, in countries such as Sweden and France, in different sectors. Basic national safety rules apply, but the rules differ across the EU and a number of key safeguards are not addressed in a coherent way.

Siim Kallas, the European Commissioner for mobility and transport, said, "Civil drones can check for damage on road and rail bridges, monitor natural disasters. But many people, including myself, have concerns about the safety, security and privacy issues relating to these devices."