I would say it is more to do with the decision by committe approach in line with how Europe is governed these days. If you give these nameless people the opportunity to tweak this or adjust that then they will dutifully go off in that direction and of course it keeps them in a job at the same time.
Of course we couldn't have a US type system where we make the database open access and rely on candidates displaying their knowledge of the subject through a tortuous oral exam. No that would be copying and then the civil servants will be out of work.
