A good course of action would be to check where you can do the writtens in English (long list of countries) and at the same time, their CAA should allow you to go for the full ATPL. Make sure you have a letter confirming this!
There is only a CPL (for which you either need the CPL and IR theory or the ATPL theory) or the ATPL (ATPL theory needed). The checkride is the same and done in the sim only in your case. With your hours, you will go straight for the ATPL, so no unfreezing. Make sure your rating will say "Command rating", as this is handled differently by some CAAs.
5R, if going for the French ATPL, thought this is not possible in English (as far as I know), they will go by the JARs. If he goes for a UK JAR licence, there will be need to add a UK, non-JAR RT licence
