REGULATION (EU) 2018/1139 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

Article 1

Subject matter and objectives

1. The principal objective of this Regulation is to establish and maintain a high uniform level of civil aviation safety in the Union.

2. This Regulation further aims to:

(a) contribute to the wider Union aviation policy and to the improvement of the overall performance of the civil aviation sector;

(b) facilitate, in the fields covered by this Regulation, the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital, providing a level playing field for all actors in the internal aviation market, and improve the competitiveness of the Union's aviation industry;

(…)

3. The objectives set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be achieved by, inter alia:

(a) the preparation, adoption and uniform application of all necessary acts;

(b) the taking of measures to improve safety standards;

c) ensuring that the declarations and certificates issued in accordance with this Regulation, and with the delegated and implementing acts adopted on the basis thereof, are valid and recognised throughout the Union, without any additional requirements;

(d) the development, with the involvement of standardisation and other industry bodies, of detailed technical standards to be used as a means of compliance with this Regulation, and with the delegated and implementing acts adopted on the basis thereof, where appropriate;

(e) the establishment of an independent European Union Aviation Safety Agency (the ‘Agency’);

(f) the uniform implementation of all necessary acts by the national competent authorities and the Agency, within their respective areas of responsibility;

EASA proposes implementing rules to the European Commission and promotes the highest common standards of safety and environmental protection in civil aviation. 

What it means:

• EASA does not just give advice to national authorities.
• It drafts European-level aviation rules (Implementing Rules, Acceptable Means of Compliance, Guidance Material).
• These are then adopted by the European Commission and become binding across EU Member States.

The EU needs uniform safety rules, not fragmented national ones. EASA acts as the technical rulemaking body. The European Commission is the political authority that formally adopts the rules.

As for the other options:

EASA proposes guidelines to the aviation industry and promotes the highest common standards of safety and environmental protection in civil aviation. ---> INCORRECT. EASA does more than guidance; it drafts binding rules.

EASA makes only rule propositions to the National Aviation Authorities without the obligation to implement these. ---> INCORRECT. Once adopted by the European Commission, rules are mandatory..

EASA proposes rules to the National Aviation Authorities and promotes the highest common standards of safety and environmental protection in civil aviation. ---> INCORRECT. EASA proposes to European Commission, not National Authorities.