Iran Air's EU safety ban lifted as new blacklist announced

The blacklisting of Iran Air on the EU safety register has been lifted in the latest list of airlines the European Commission considered not meeting international safety standards has been released.
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However, Iraqi Airways has been placed on the list following safety concerns.
EU Commissioner for Transport, Violeta Bulc (above) said: "Aviation safety is my top priority and today's update illustrates our continuous efforts to offer the highest level of air safety to European citizens. I am happy to say that after seven years of work and extensive European technical assistance, we were able to clear all Zambian air carriers from the list. Following my visit to Iran in April, a technical assessment was successfully carried out in May. Based on this I am happy to announce that we are now also able to allow most aircraft from Iran Air back into European skies."
The EU Air Safety List is said to also help affected countries to improve their levels of safety, in order for them to eventually be taken off the list. According to the EU the Air Safety List has become a major preventive tool, as it motivates countries with safety problems to act upon them before a ban under the Air Safety List would become necessary.
Following today's update, a total of 216 airlines are banned from EU skies:
214 airlines certified in 19 states, due to a lack of safety oversight by the aviation authorities from these states plus two individual airlines, based on safety concerns: Iraqi Airways (Iraq) and Blue Wing Airlines (Suriname).
Six airlines are subject to operational restrictions and can only fly to the EU with specific aircraft types: Afrijet and Nouvelle Air Affaires SN2AG (Gabon), Air Koryo (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), Air Service Comores (the Comoros), Iran Air (Iran) and TAAG Angola Airlines (Angola).