New ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) set out a requirement that from 5 Mar 2008 pilots and controllers operating from an international airport who are not at a level of 'expert' in English Language proficiency shall be tested, either at 3-yearly or 6-yearly intervals.
The Licensing authority of each ICAO contracting state determines the way in which the ability is demonstrated.
The JAA has set up a Working Group to analyse the amendments needed to JAR-FCL to meet these requirements.