To do this though you must be aware of your final objective of achieving a JAA ME/IR at the start of the process
Good point - don't take the cop out option. There are many great schools in the US, there also many terrible ones - get one which provides good quality training and your set.
There was a great post by Keygrip once about the USA attracting student pilots with unrealistic expectations and generally the weaker pilots and those who took the path of least resistance. I can't find it in the search function but will look when I'm back of the next trip
You should expect every course to be the absolute minimums required and no matter where you train a minimum 20% overspend in time and financially is the norm amongst the majority of students.