Not a wind-up; I had to get my Level 6 ELP signed by the JAA IR examiner last month because, apparently, I never had it before.
I have been in the UK since 1969 and got the initial UK/JAA PPL in 2001.
Actually there is a serious side to ICAO ELP and that is the huge % of non-UK ATCOs who cannot speak English beyond the few stock phrases. However, it appears that they will find ways to circumvent this requirement; unsuprising since so many would be affected in certain countries and particularly in those countries they are rather well organised...