The European Commission launched infringement procedures against Denmark and Cyprus, issuing formal notices to both nations for inaccuracies in implementing specific EU aviation safety legislation provisions.
Infringement procedures conducted by the European Commission are formal actions taken against EU member states for violating EU law, involving a structured process of notices, opinions, and potential court referrals to ensure compliance.
For Denmark, the European Commission found shortcomings in adhering to aviation safety regulations. The issues include not having well-qualified staff, non-compliance with oversight procedures, and improper acceptance and approval of aviation company manuals, all of which contravene Regulations (EU) No 1321/2014 and (EU) No 748/2012.
In the case of Cyprus, identified flaws relate to various aspects of airport supervision, outlined in Regulations (EU) No 139/2014 and (EU) 923/2012, including confirming airport-related obligations and evaluating the sufficiency of Cyprus’s safety management system.
Both Denmark and Cyprus will face a two-month deadline to address the concerns presented by the Commission and enact the requisite measures.
Failure to comply within this timeframe may prompt the Commission to consider issuing a reasoned opinion, the next formal step in the infringement process.
A reasoned opinion provides a detailed explanation of the alleged breaches and offers the countries an additional opportunity to rectify the issues before further legal action is pursued.
Air travel, deemed one of the safest modes of transportation, is assured by the EU to provide European citizens with the utmost safety standards in the skies.
The foundation of the European aviation safety system rests upon a framework of standardised safety regulations jointly supervised by the European Commission, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and National Aviation Authorities.
These regulations are applicable across all EU Member States, encompassing crucial facets of aviation, including airworthiness, aircrew, aerodromes, air operations, and the provision of air navigation services.
The EU’s aviation safety management strategy is grounded on occurrence reporting, which involves documenting, analysing, and addressing safety-related events in civil aviation. Standardised accident investigation rules are also in place to prevent the recurrence of safety issues.
In the realm of EU aviation, the Air Safety List restricts unsafe third-country air carriers, ensuring compliance with international safety standards, with oversight conducted by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
The EU’s commitment to aviation safety extends globally through collaborations with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), technical cooperation projects, and bilateral agreements with key international partners.
