[CaptainZapp]

According to what I read here, the European agency doesn't do exhaustive tests because they mostly trust whatever the FAA says

That's true. The FAA had a stellar record as a certification agency, which, it can be argued, they fucked in three days (sure, the hole history of this sad debacle is more complex. But by keeping the plane in the air longer than any other certification body in order to not hurt their buddies at Boeing they completely ruined their reputation, which was built in decades of good work).

I can't imagine that any responsible certification body anywhere trusts the FAA anymore without a complete and significant shakeup.

It's a sad story, really.