The new European licence is based on our NPPL
Sadly untrue. If, perish the thought, the current €uro-proposals for the so-called 'Leisure Pilot Licence' should ever become law, you will find that your flying will become more expensive than with a NPPL.
The reason being that the so-called UK 'representatives' (from the CAA) totally rolled over to the French. And thus became the first people in recorded history ever to have surrendered to the French...