Over the past 20 years, European aviation has maintained an outstanding safety record, supported by a robust and comprehensive regulatory framework. As safety requirements have grown increasingly complex, keeping pace with evolving regulations has become challenging — and the risk of inconsistencies between rules has risen. To address this, EASA has launched a Rule Simplification Programme as part of the EU’s Better Regulation policy. This initiative aims to make the regulatory framework easier to understand, implement, and manage, while preserving safety and supporting innovation, efficiency, and industry competitiveness.
Strategic alignment
The programme aligns with EASA’s strategic priorities, particularly:
- Safety: Eliminating unnecessary requirements and ensuring proportionality to risk while closing regulatory gaps.
- Innovation: Safely integrating new technologies and market developments into aviation systems.
It also supports broader EU goals, particularly:
- Competitiveness : Supporting the European Commission’s Competitiveness Compass by reducing administrative burdens, enhancing industry competitiveness, and aligning with EU-wide goals to modernise policies for productivity and growth.
- Better Regulation: Picking up on the Commission’s Communication on Simplification, which emphasises streamlined processes and proportionate oversight to ensure regulatory efficiency without compromising safety.
Governance and the Joint MAB/SAB Simplification Board (JSB)
The programme is guided by the Joint MAB/SAB Simplification Board (JSB), established in May 2025. Comprising 14 members (6 from the Member States Advisory Board (MAB), 6 from the Stakeholders Advisory Board (SAB), 1 from the European Commission (EC), and 1 from EUROCONTROL), the JSB advises EASA on identifying, prioritising, and implementing simplification actions. Its objectives include:
- Identifying areas for simplification in EASA’s regulatory framework and implementation processes.
- Promoting an outcomes-focused, cross-domain approach to reduce duplication and enhance clarity.
- Ensuring stakeholder engagement and transparency throughout the programme.
Your Feedback will shape the future of aviation regulation
EASA is launching a stakeholder survey to gather insights from industry, regulators, and other stakeholders. Your participation is essential to help EASA:
- Identify areas where simplification could bring the greatest benefit.
- Understand challenges in implementing current rules.
- Prioritise actions that align with the programme's goals.
Note: The survey will be open until the end of 2025. But don’t delay – please respond now!
What’s Next?
EASA is advancing short-term actions under EPAS 2026, focusing on targeted initiatives to streamline regulations, reduce administrative burdens, enhance readability, and align requirements across key areas, including pilot licensing and training systems, medical standards for pilots and air traffic controllers, aerodrome operations, and drone regulations.
This survey will inform the development of the European Plan for Aviation Safety (EPAS) 2027, which will include a more comprehensive list of simplification actions. Together, we can create a regulatory environment that is both safe and efficient for all.
Thank you for helping us shape the future of European aviation regulation!