This might save you some effort...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Area
It will be the same for every country that has fully implemented the Schengen agreement as there are no borders between the countries.
In terms of shafting it's really both ways as the Embassies in the UK have to issue a visa to spouses of British citizens and they can't charge for it (so it costs them money...).
Luckily for spouses of British citizens they can apply for British citizenship after only 3 years anyway and leave all of this visa nonsense behind.