Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, has told the European Parliament that the EU aviation certification system is fundamentally sound but faces resource constraints that could hamper competitiveness, particularly for next-generation sustainable aircraft. The answer, given on 25 June 2026, responds to a written question from MEPs Oliver Schenk, Wouter Beke, and Andrea Wechsler.
Tzitzikostas stated that the legal and organisational framework for certification, defined in the EASA Basic Regulation, is fit for purpose and that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) cooperates effectively with national authorities. The main challenge, he said, is ensuring EASA has sufficient resources to complete certification tasks on time. He pointed to the 2025 revision of the EASA Fees and Charges Regulation as an important step, but noted that EASA, like all EU agencies, must respect its staff ceiling under its establishment plan.
On emerging technologies, the Commissioner said EASA has begun building expertise but that the key challenge is having the technical capacity to support EU industry's competitiveness and ensure timely entry into service of more sustainable aircraft. The Commission is monitoring EASA's workload and has taken action to reinforce staff, promote efficiency, and support digitalisation. Tzitzikostas revealed that the Commission has proposed staff increases in the 2027 draft EU budget and is working on measures to simplify the regulatory framework for aviation safety, including certification.
The answer contains no new concrete proposals beyond the budget request and ongoing simplification work, but signals the Commission's awareness of industry pressure for faster certification. Institutional follow-up is expected through the 2027 budget negotiations and possible legislative proposals to streamline certification rules. Stakeholders most impacted include EASA itself, which faces workload pressures; EU aircraft manufacturers, who depend on timely certification for competitive advantage; and national aviation authorities, whose cooperation is deemed effective but may be strained by resource limits. The answer balances support for industry competitiveness with the reality of EU agency budget constraints.