Some 20 Europeean countries are part of the JAA organization (Member states). This obligdes them to implement the Joint Aviation Requirements (JAR) into their national regulations, and make the JAR's sole kode. This way, you'll proparbly see that all the 20 member states will have identical regulations on licencing, operations, certification etc. in a few years time. This is the overall goal of the JAA cooperation - common regulations throught Europe.
Flight Crew Licencing is ONE of the aeras that is beeing harmonized. The JAA requirements on Flight Crew Licencing are set out in JAR FCL. All the 20 member states need to implement latest 2001.06.30. After implementation, the countries undergo an audit by a JAA inspection team. If this team finds that the country i question has implemented and is enforcing JAR FCL in the same manner as other countries that have implemented and been granted approval, JAA will give the country mutual recognition on licencing. The country may then start issuing JAR FCL licences to pilots. These licences can be used flying airplanes registrered in all 20 member states. A europeean licence on the other hand, can be a licence issued in a europeean country in accordanse with old national regulations, issued before JAR FCL was implemented in the issuing country. This licence then only gives priveleges to fly airplanes registrered in the country that issued the licence...
Get the drift???