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various EU countries have a law that states that all jobs have to be advertised domestically for a period of time before they are opened up to international applicants
The UK has this (or at least used to have it) for non-UK/EU applicants. I remember having to do these interviews at a previous employer and it was a total farce. You'd have a candidate in mind, then "tick the box" for a couple of UK/EU candidates.
Because most businesses will take the cheap option, and if they can get someone with ten years experience from abroad for the same price as the person you'll have to train up in the UK then there is a pretty good chance that they'll be taking that cheaper option.