Pace, the relevance is not around the aircraft it is around a set of standards that the Europeans have decided that their citizens will meet when operating any aircraft. You live in Europe, you abide by their rules. You live in the US you abide by theirs. They have been clever enough to ensure that they don't penalise visitors to the great country of europe by honouring ICAO agreements but those agreements don't have to extend to it's residents.
Thats not discrimination it is politics. Stinks I know.