The retention and recruitment problem arises from poor pay and conditions for licensed staff. The root of that problem is de-regulation and government capitulation to ever increasing public pressure for cheap flights. The proper answer is of course to improve salaries and conditions, which in turn would probably result in higher air fares. The EU and EASA seem determined to keep down the cost of flying by reducing the qualification levels of certifying staff. No doubt we'll then see even more mechanical guys switching to motor car repairs and avionics guys moving into IT - where they'll all get an immediate pay hike and face half the hassle.
Another interesting point. ICAO requires signatory states to issue licences to certify aircraft maintenance. It is important to note that it is the state that must issue the basic licence, not the operators. Apart from France, none of the EU member states lodged a difference to this rule and are committed to continue issuing licences. The EU isn't an ICAO signatory or national government. So it will be interesting to see how EASA and the EU might go about replacing B1 and B2 licensed staff with "appropriately authorised" people. Presumably they propose to have just a few C licence holders issue a group CRS covering any rectification accomplished during whole transits and other maintenance visits. That may technically satisfy the individual EU member states' obligation to ICAO, but what will be the reaction of other signatory states? Or the general public for that matter, once they cotton on to the implications...