Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/1044 of 23 May 2025 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council with detailed rules and procedures regarding the acceptance of air traffic controller licences and certificates issued by third countries
On May 23, 2025, the European Commission adopted Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/1044, supplementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 with detailed rules and procedures concerning the acceptance of air traffic controller licenses and certificates issued by third countries. This regulation was adopted to meet the growing demand for air traffic controllers in the EU and to enable national authorities to recognize foreign qualifications while ensuring a level of safety equivalent to that provided for in existing regulations.
The main provisions stipulate that Member States may issue trainee controller licenses on the basis of foreign certificates and accept third-country licenses and certificates for the purpose of training and assessment, provided that the holders meet the criteria for training, examinations, and language proficiency. The regulation also provides for the possibility of granting training credits for qualifications already acquired abroad and organizing shorter training periods in order to rapidly increase air navigation service provision capacity.
The regulation was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on August 6, 2025, and is directly applicable in all Member States.
