I agree with that, HD. What I was referring to as "sad" is that in a lot (if not all) of those countries you would have to sit a lengthy Civil Service entry exam in their language and gain promotion by sitting further CS exams rather than through experience and ability as a controller. You would also need to meet the residential & nationality requirements for Civil Service which is not (as far as I know)) regulated by the EU. This does lead to an effective bar on foreign Direct Entry ATCOs.
On the other side of the coin, I believe that some French airfields are municipally-run & outside the Civil Service. They are smaller airfields & lower-paying, but apparently they are there! Whether or not other countries have the same, I couldn't tell you.
ap
