Brussels, 10/10/2005 (Agence Europe) - The European Transportworkers Federation (ETF) is opposing the European Commission's decision to withdraw its draft legislation on European standards for training and health of cabin crews in Europe as long as other regulations on training and skill certification is not available. ETF is unhappy with the new Commission proposal (of 2000, known as EU OPS, replacing draft directive 1997/0212/COD and draft Regulation (EC) 1998/0349/COD, blocked at Council level), seeing it as considerably different from the first draft which foresaw the granting of a licence for cabin crew by national civil aviation authorities to allow greater worker mobility. Under the new draft, it would be up to operators to issue simple 'statements' rather than licences. The ETF argues that this makes it impossible to harmonise, and it is urging the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, to press ahead with the original proposals and ensure an EU training and licensing system to ensure high levels of professional skills and health for air crews, both basic components of air passenger safety in the event of an emergency.