Everyone is quick to call the JAA a farce but is it?
The intention of the JAA is to introduce common standards in aviation accross Europe not a particularly bad idea.
JAR-FCL is designed to allow airlines to operate aircraft of any registration using crews from any country without any need for formality or beaurocracy again not a bad idea.
JAR-FCL was never intended to cover the PPL, that was AOPAs pet project. Look at the JAR-FCL PPL syllabus, its the old AOPA syllabus, so what has really changed 45 hours v 40 hours. When AOPA lost the plot they criticised the CAA for implimenting JAR-FCL, after all they had originally wanted to be in charge. The CAA told them to to go away and think of something constructive thinking that was the end of it, they came back with the NPPL.
If you think JAA is a farce, just wait until you get a mixture of JAA PPLs v NPPLs v other ICAO PPLs. The farce hasn't begun yet.
If you get rid of JAA at the PPL level, what exactly is going to change? 45 hours to 40 hours, NFT/GFT back, same AOPA syllabus, call it NPPL. At least if it is 40 hours it will meet ICAO requirements and be valid Worldwide.