tismee,
Either way you will need to pass a skills test.
The JAR licence you get from the CAA will expire after 5 years & will need another cheque to turn into an EASA licence.
Direct to EASA will also involve written exams in air law & human performance & a minimum of 100 hours flight time.
C1.2 of Lasors
Penultimate page of EASA draft regulation