This isn't about whether EASA is better or worse than the FAA, it's about Boeing taking the phrase "People in glass houses....." and OWNING it.
However, just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
The time to do this would have been after EASA certification, not before, it's not as if Airbus hasn't already run this by EASA.
Granted it might be a tactical move to make Airbus/EASA consider their options and gain some time but either way it doesn't sit well coming from Boeing at this juncture.
Any publicity is good publicity isn't necessarily a truism, the Boeing brand is tainted at present and this has not helped.