Adina-Ioana Vălean – This is the name aviation professionals in Europe will hear very often in the next 5 years. As the new EU Commissioner in charge of transport Ms Vălean will be the driving force of safe, efficient, sustainable and socially-responsible transport in Europe. Behind those terms is an ambitious agenda, already outlined by the new Commissioner – who comes from Romania – at the EU Parliament hearing earlier this year. 

Members of the Parliament were keen to know what the Commissioner will do to fight problems such as fictitious home bases, the misuse of social security certificates, bogus self-employment, pay-to-fly schemes and other unacceptable practices which exist in the aviation sector today.

Some work has already been done by the previous EU Commissioner Bulc – with a study and report on Atypical Employment in aviation and a new Expert Group of Transport and Labour Authorities. Ms Vălean will need to pick up the ball from there and transform the pledges to actions. 

With her rich previous experience in the European Parliament, she is well-versed to take action. She joined the European Parliament as an observer in 2006, before her home country Romania was an EU member. And she has been an MEP ever since. Ms Vălean served as chair of the Parliament's energy and industry committee and also of the environment committee. A good basis to pick up the ball and run with it!