Several chapters are needed just to explain how things are organized, who does what, which issues will remain a responsibility of the individual member states and which are big enough to be addressed on the European level. A proactive approach could inadvertently take away resources from issues that need to be addressed anyway. In the end, it is not important whether to act or react, stakeholders must avoid getting themselves into too much bureaucracy—something for which Europe unfortunately is famous.

What is needed much more is very simple: Transparency and information sharing. And that's exactly where the deficiencies lie. EASA itself writes in its review that occurrence reporting and the use of the European central repository are still affected by shortcomings, notably “low quality of information, incomplete data, insufficient clarity in reporting obligations and in the flow of information, and legal and organizational obligations.” Why not start here? —By Jens Flottau