In my european experience, the French are arrogant, and cold, but actually very competent. The Italians are friendly, willing to oblige, but only marginally competent.
The Spanish however, manage to synthesise both those traits; arrogance and incompetence in one fell swoop. I've now started filing ASR's every time I am slowed down to 220kts at 100 miles to allow 4 Iberias in first, or given a revised taxi route to place Spanair and Air Europa before me in the holding-point queue (clue... query that one, and your "place" miraculously returns.)
...and I'm a fan of Europe in all her colours! Unfortunately, not everyone out there is!
Alien