Drone Alliance Europe Introduces New Executive Director alongside Panel Discussion on the Future of European Drone Integration

Brussels, Belgium – 21 March 2018 – Last night, Drone Alliance Europe (DAE) in collaboration with the Permanent Representation of Romania to the European Union hosted a panel discussion and reception featuring senior EU and industry representatives and formally introduced its new Executive Director Christoph Raab. The event featured remarks from MEP Marian-Jean Marinescu, Matej Zakonjšek, Head of Cabinet for Commissioner for Transport, and Ralph Schepp, Vice President of Program & Project Management, Deutsche Telekom. They spoke on the development of European drone regulations and the future of European drone integration.

 “In the first half of 2019, Romania will hold the rotating EU Council Presidency, under which work and efforts for drone integration will continue. The discussions on the future EU’s industrial policy will feature on our agenda,” Romanian Ambassador to the European Union Luminiţa Teodora Odobescu stated in her welcoming remarks.

 “The success of the commercial drone industry depends upon the development of a regulatory framework that fosters innovation while upholding safety, security, and privacy. The EU must work with industry stakeholders to develop such a framework as a necessary step toward realising the remarkable potential of this technology,” MEP Marinescu stated.

 “Together with our partner DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung we are aiming to fairly and safely integrate UAVs into German airspace via DT’s mobile network. Furthermore, our networks are key to deliver the aspired U-Space services such as e-Registration and flying beyond visual line of sight,” Mr. Schepp, Vice President of Program & Project Management, Deutsche Telekom, stated.

 “We thank our hosts, the Permanent Representation of Romanian to the European Union, for the opportunity to host this exciting event. Members of DAE look forward to continued work with the European Commission, European Parliament, Council to the European Union, the European Aviation Safety Agency, and all other Member States and relevant stakeholders to develop a pan-European ecosystem that enables the European commercial drone industry to flourish,” the new DAE Executive Director Christoph Raab stated.

 For more information on Drone Alliance Europe, please visit dronealliance.eu, contact press@dronealliance.eu, or follow @DroneAllianceEU on Twitter.