IO,
Your post #125 boils down to the fact you think the EASA requirements are silly. Fair enough. I think it's silly too. Doesn't mean it's not happening.
Pace,
The point on medicals is a serious one. The answer is I don't know. It may be that your friend will need to have EASA medicals in order to work for a European operator. I would suggest he gets in touch with a top AME who is close to the process and understands the regs well. These names must float around the pro pilot community. There may be conversion options which are better done asap (again, I simply don't know).
On the plus side, EASA Part-MED has some relaxation of the worst restrictions of JAR Medical regs. However, how these may impact your friend, again, I don't know.
brgds
421C