It isn't intended to slap the British at all, it is intended to ensure that all member states have measures in place to protect mortgage customers. If you read the link below, you will see that the government have been trying to adapt our own Mortgage Market Review measures, which largely do the same job, to minimise any effect on 'us'. The article you post shows that there is a great deal of confusion over who will be affected.
How do you know the rest of Europe will be largely unaffected? We are 33rd in the list of European property ownership figures. I'll find the link again if you want.
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/implementation-of-the-eu-mortgage-credit-directive/implementation-of-the-eu-mortgage-credit-directive