I don't see the change to EASA maintenance as to much of a problem, things will change a little but there are ways to reduce the price of some parts of the maintenance task if the company approval is well writen.
To me the big problem is that EASA was found to be "an accident in the making" by the House of Commons transport select comittiee, the report by the MP's was the most damming that I have seen and used some very strong remarks discribing EASA as "half baked" and "half cocked".
The final recomendation was that no more power should be given to EASA untill the the get there act together, this is all very well but the uncertenty leaves mantnance companys unsure if it is worth the cost of getting the paperwork for EASA Approvals in place when EASA is in such a mess and Westminster select comittee is recomending that the CAA should not hand over any more powers to EASA.
No doubt IO540 will see this as all the more reason to stay with the FAA system and I can see his point but the constant slagging of UK maintenance companys should be seen in the light of labour rates that are about a third of what a BMW dealer would charge.
Quality maintenance is avalable in the UK but most owners won't pay the extra few pounds an hour to get it.