European Commission
European Commission

Europe has long traditions in rulemaking cooperation in aviation safety, with the first common standards developed as early as 1990, within the framework of the currently no longer existing Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA). At that time, the European aviation safety authorities collaborated in the development of the Joint Aviation Requirements (JARs), and related procedures, initially in the field of aircraft manufacturing and design, and later also in respect of flight operations, maintenance and crew licensing. JARs, although constituting a first major effort in harmonisation of safety standards in Europe, did not have mandatory nature and the JAA did not have the necessary power to ensure their uniform implementation across Europe.

With the establishment of the single aviation market, the EU has seized the initiative and in 1991, by virtue of the Council Regulation (EEC) No 3922/91, provided for the first mandatory set of directly applicable safety rules based on JARs. Currently this Regulation, commonly referred to as "EU-OPS", constitutes the reference standard for the initial approval and oversight of Community airlines. Similarly a Council Directive 91/670/EEC was adopted to facilitate themovement of cockpit personnel within the Community. Both the "EU-OPS" Regulation as well as the Directive on acceptance of personnel licences will be replaced by April 2012 by a new set of rules implementing the Community competence in the area of flight operations and crew licensing.

In 2008, by virtue of the Regulation (EC) No 216/2008, the EU extended the common aviation safety rules and the corresponding responsibilities of EASA to aircraft operations and crew licensing and training. In 2009, the EU adopted a second extension of the common rules covering safety aspects of aerodrome operations and provision of air navigation services and air traffic management. These newly acquired competences will be executed by a progressive adoption, till 2013, of implementing rules for the training and licensing of crews, flight operations (of both Community and third country operators), as well as safety aspects of aerodrome operation, air traffic management and provision of air navigation services.

Aviation safety implementing rules are adopted by the European Commission on the basis of technical opinions issued by EASA. The proper implementation of the rules is regularly monitored by the Commission with the assistance of EASA which carries out regular standardisation inspections in all Member States.  Enforcement actions can be taken if safety deficiencies are detected. These can involve the suspension of the mutual recognition of certificates or penalties imposed on certificate holders.