In a written answer on 25 June 2026, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, ruled out any immediate action to mutually recognise pilot licences between the European Union and the United Kingdom, stating that the current system is sufficient and that no pilot shortage exists in the EU. The response, addressed to MEP Merja Kyllönen (The Left, Finland), directly impacts pilots seeking to work across the EU-UK border, as well as the broader aviation sector, which faces conversion costs exceeding EUR 20,000 and delays of up to a year.
The answer comes in reply to a parliamentary question submitted on 29 April 2026, in which Kyllönen highlighted the burdensome licence conversion process between the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), despite nearly identical training requirements. She noted that the current procedure mirrors third-country licence conversion, requiring repeated theory tests, medical exams, and additional training, and warned of an ageing pilot workforce and shortages in specialist roles such as helicopter operations for wildfire fighting and mountain rescue.
Tzitzikostas's response offered no concrete proposals or timelines. He explained that the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement only provides alleviations for initial airworthiness—not for pilot licences. He pointed to Regulation (EU) 2020/723, which allows validation of third-country pilot licences under conditions ensuring equivalent training, including short-term validations for sudden specialist shortages. However, he stated that the Commission is not aware of a particular pilot shortage in the EU, citing a vibrant pilot training industry that can cover any increase in jobs.
The policy orientation is clearly against reopening the agreement or simplifying the conversion process, prioritising regulatory stability over labour mobility. No institutional follow-up was signalled; the Commission considers the current framework adequate. The answer effectively closes the door on any near-term bilateral deal on pilot licence recognition, leaving the burden on individual pilots and operators to navigate the existing validation rules.