At the Maastricht center we usually give shortcuts whenever they are available. It is already many years standard practice to clear traffic coming from London ACC direct to BOMBI, TGO/KRH (depending on military activity), even direct destination EKBI coming from France.
But that depends on the traffic situation ofcourse, eg if you haven 7 mile separation with other AC on standard route, we will not reduce that to zero by given direct. Sometimes we offer the pilots a choice, standard route at requested flight level or direct with step climb.
However, these days pilots ask directs any time of the day. Some have to realize that during day times Monday to Friday, the militaries are active. Therefore asking has no point, we would have given it, if it were available.