Dick,
Same problem here in UK. Probably anti American predudice prevents EASA from just accepting the FAA format. Reduced ground school , just relevant subjects, but the flying test is just as demanding.
AOPA over here are trying to negotiate a lighter touch IR with EASA, but so far seems just as complicated. In fact like most EASA regs you need a lawyer to decipher the bu...hit!!
As you know many of us keep our aircraft on the N reg to enable the safety of the FAA IR. Although trying hard, EASA not succeeded in shutting off this route, been delayed for another year. Again politics seem to rule over common sense and safety.