Apparently, having an FAA ME rating will allow my friend to renew his EASA MEP rating with just a check ride w/o dual.
All he needs to renew an EASA MEP rating is a Course Completion Certificate and a Prof Check. That does not necessarily require any Dual and holding a valid FAA ME rating makes no difference; he still needs a Course Completion Certificate from an ATO before he can renew the MEP.