<<My guess is that a lot of countries will retain civil ATC under the Civil Service umbrella, ie you will first have to pass the civil service entry exams (and subsequent promotion exams) before specialising in ATC. Sad, but there it is!>>
Don't think there's anything sad about that. I started life as a Civil Servant and I think the move of UK ATC into the "private" sector was an unmitigated disaster. Commercial pressures should NOT be part of ATC.. I also believe that the "old" system of Civil Service interviews and a lengthy training programme produced better-equipped candidates than the current system.