flyingspanard: my point was that JAR has enabled pilots from ALL JAR countries to apply for positions in the UK, whereas for me as Brit, my JAR licence only qualifies me positions in the UK. All the JAR euro-licence has done for me as a Brit is increase competition for jobs at home, whilst doing nothing to enhance my employment prospects elsewhere, unless I take the time to learn a foreign language to a fluent level. As Foggy alludes to, this is a greater hurdle for a Brit than for others. Like a fair few Brits, I speak French and German to 'tourist' level (i.e. ordering dinner and asking directions to the rail station, etc), but I certainly couldn't manage a job interview in either of those two languages. I simply don't have enough exposure, and to be frank the incentive to progress any further.
I make no apology whatsoever if this sounds nationalistic, that's because it is. For the average wannabe pilot in the UK, unless he happens to be a linguist, JAR has made getting on the first rung of the employment ladder that much harder.
Buenas noches!