Member of the European Parliament Wouter Beke visits Unifly: “Drone integration as a cornerstone for a safer Europe”
Antwerp, October 29, 2025 – Drones have become an integral part of our daily lives. They are used for inspections, logistics, and emergency services, yet they also raise new safety concerns. In this context, Member of the European Parliament Wouter Beke visited the Antwerp-based technology company Unifly on Friday, October 24. Unifly is a Flemish pioneer in safe drone integration. The visit was centered around the theme “Drone integration as a cornerstone for a safer Europe.”
The recent reports of drones flying over the military bases of Marche-en-Famenne and Elsenborn, as well as other incidents across Europe, show that drones pose security challenges. For Unifly, the solution does not lie solely in banning or combating drones.
CEO Andres Van Swalm agrees. “Not every pilot who flies somewhere they shouldn’t should be considered a criminal. Drone legislation is complex. Every day, we help drone pilots properly prepare their flights. It’s comparable to road traffic: if someone drives 130 km/h where the limit is 120, that doesn’t make them a criminal. First, there need to be clear rules, then you raise awareness, and finally, you build the necessary systems to intervene when someone keeps breaking the rules.
We need to approach drones in the same way: first by educating and guiding drone pilots, and by ensuring that permits can be granted more quickly. Today, that process can still take up to eight months, which increases the risk of violations. In addition, we need better visibility into who is flying and where, so we can distinguish between pilots with good intentions and those with criminal motives. Only then will we have a clear picture of what is happening in our airspace and be able to respond appropriately.”
Van Swalm advocates for a harmonized and clear European strategy for drone integration, combining safety, innovation, and cooperation.
During the visit, Wouter Beke was given an extensive look at how Unifly is already putting this vision into practice. The company works closely with the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. Thanks to Unifly’s air traffic management system, drone flights are planned and approved daily, and the port has a clear overview of which drones are flying where and when. Drone pilots can make use of user-friendly applications that make the process as straightforward as possible.
This leading example of how drones can be safely integrated is only possible thanks to the close collaboration between the government (the Federal Public Service Mobility) and Belgian partners such as Senhive, Skeydrone, ADLC, and DroneMatrix.
“It’s something we can be proud of in Belgium,” says Van Swalm. “Authorities and industry players from all over the world come to the Port of Antwerp-Bruges to see how we’ve made this possible. If we can apply this model in more places, we’ll be much closer to a solution for the incidents that have occurred across Europe in recent weeks.”
Unifly emphasizes that safe drone integration does not mean that all drones should be banned, but rather that a clear and coherent strategy is needed. “Awareness, identification, clear responsibilities, and transparency about who flies, where, and when, combined with proper flight management, are key building blocks of a safe European airspace,” concludes Van Swalm. “Only through a comprehensive vision and cooperation can we view drones for what they truly are: an opportunity, not a threat.”
About Unifly
Unifly is a Flemish technology company that develops solutions to safely integrate drones and new aerial vehicles into the airspace. The Unifly platform digitizes and automates air traffic management and acts as a bridge between governments, aviation authorities, drone pilots, and other stakeholders. Through Unifly Consulting, the group also offers expertise in regulation, safety analysis, and strategic support. Together, they are building a complete ecosystem that enables the future of safe and responsible aviation worldwide.
Press contact: press@unifly.aero.
