IO540, totally agree with your analysis.
EASA is caught in the middle of a spat between the EU and USA. "we'll accept your approval system if you accept ours." As I understand it, it started with the USA being unwilling in broad terms to accept EU approvals on maintenance (CAT we're talking, not our end of the game). Don't know too much of the detail, but that's the essence of it from what I picked up last year. I guess it will all be resolved in due course. In the meantime it leaves a big hole in efficient (?) inter-changeability of parts across the pond, and as IO540 correctly concludes, a rip off for a bit of paper that supposedly provides traceability and provenence.
If this spat isn't sorted soon - or maybe it has by now - then it could infect the forthcoming EU licensing implementation. Would be interesting to see how the US airlines react to the EU refusing to recognise FAA ATPLs to fly into and out of Europe......! Can't think they'll let it get to that stage, but who knows. I am not a poker player.