The reason for this measure is, as had been rightfully put, that not enough eligible FOs apply to EK. Word is on the street that you work too much, you can't get home due to catastrophic rostering and no leave, the package is inadequate unless you move to the left and the latter will no happen before 7 to 8 years.
Thus EK has to revert to DECs to fill the seats. There seems to be a small pool of desperate skippers around the world that just barely match the requirements.
The outcome will be even less FOs applying, logically enough because all the above gets even worse, therefore EK will have to continue to recruit DECs and the vicious circle engages.
EK will not up the conditions for skippers, because as long as they can recruit some, they think the package is sufficient. But in the short run they will run out of FOs and the RHS will be filled with skippers.
Then they will run out of applications by skippers because word will be out on the street that the conditions are not great and that half of the time you will work as a FO ........
Great leadership and foresight. Bravo management!!