It appears to me to be a never ending story "pilot-shortage" - sometimes I have the impression that it's more of a
PR campaign to the benefit of airlines and flight schools.
Today commonly the majority of EU operators (airlines as well as executive companies) require a (self-sponsored) type rating, preferably with a couple hundred hours on type and a minimum of 1000hr tt (total time). Lately I've been looking up various EU carriers on the internet and apparently the only EU carrier requiring no self-sponsored TR and no minimum hours is from Ireland
That doesn't really lot like a pilot-shortage to me? I have the impression that the airlines/industry just want to make sure that there is no shortage on supplies (pilots)!