I hate it when 411A is right, but here he is.
The EASA is yet another creation of Euro nature, useless, overboarding crap with a even greater detachment from reality than JAA and the former national authorities ever had. Rules are changed on a weekly basis and the lads at the national authorities just lay them out as they please. Fukc that I say.
On the other hand, from what I´ve heard, the FAA and TSA are not necessarely nice to deal with...
Common sense and the willingness to make regulations workable are dead. Long live the EU.