EASA has released its proposals on maintenance of foreign reg planes based in the EU.
The relevant bit for small aircraft seems to be on page 9 of the
PDF
The bit relevant to SE or ME pistons appears to be the very bottom row - if I understand it right.
ISTM that it hangs on the meaning of
>ICAO Annex I licence, or
>o Qualified maintenance
>organisation, or
>o ICAO Annex 6 maintenance
>organisation
Would anyone know what these are?
Currently, on N-regs, anybody suitably qualified (an A&P in the USA) can perform maintenance, and a freelance A&P/IA can sign off the Annual. That is how it works in the USA, and currently everywhere else.
I wonder if this means having to use a Company for the Annuals? Most people do that anyway but really only because most people don't have a hangar in which a freelance engineer may work.
I have never heard anything suggesting that a freelance A&P/IA is sub-ICAO.
Edit: It appears that "ICAO Annex I licence" means an A&P (or maybe an A&P/IA) and "Annex 6 maintenance organisation" means an FAA Repair Station.