Having experienced the joys of both the FAA and EASA/JAA programs, I have some mixed views. There is nothing trivial about FAA standards, and the training organisations offer quality training and additionally check to a high but fair standard.
EASA/JAA could have been a benefit to Europe, however, the nonsense of license validation from one member state to another confounds rationality.
Both FAA and EASA are supposed to be aligned to ICAO requirements under the annexes, but apparently that is insufficient to have a harmonised program.