Casa Basics are split into Engine , Airframe , Electrical , Instrument and Radio. You pass the exams you need to hold individual license, its easy to tailor to your needs . For example if you dont need turbine engines you only have to study piston exams.
Practical experiance is made up of a lot of 'Scheduled Maintenance' and task specific areas such as fuel systems ,instruments , electrical , flight controls etc. So the best way is to work a lot of scheduled servicing (periodic checks 100, 200 hourlys) , You will pick up retification work along the way to fill other tasks areas . It seems always hard to complete some task areas and you may need to go to other work shops to get that experiance. All that is logged into a SOE and if you have 4 years aviation experiance the required basics and are over 21 you can apply for a license.
As for EASA.... to me it seems some sort of money making affair and I am not sure when its meant to arrive.