Most airline endorsed integrated ATPL programs that I've seen (Air Baltic, for example) require that you hold an EU/EEA/CH passport to apply. In any case, I doubt they'd be likely to pick me over any EU citizen, considering the pilot surplus.
The €15,000 is indeed just the upfront cost - however- the rest is paid off via increments off your salary after you've been released from line training as an Airbus FO - which I think is a very good thing.