The ARC (airworthiness renewal certificate) could provide just the flexibility in light aeroplane maintenance that I had in mind.
My wish list would be for any EASA aircraft, to be able to renew the ARC, at any JAA 145 or EASA maintenance base in any EU country.
That way local authorities like the British CAA and French GSAC, etc, would be out of the picture, and logically all EASA aircraft would have an EU registration number.
Could it be that a bit of common sense is about to be imposed on the CAA and others!
MG