Things are actually changing:-
French AIP GEN 1.5
Carriage requirements for aircraft in IFR flights
2.1.1Longitudinal precision
To fly in upper airspace and in some specified lower airspace sections,
all aircraft shall be equipped with a distance measuring equipment
(DME) or with a device giving a longitudinal precision at least equivalent.
They are also specifically allowing for RNAV as a replacement for DME (see AIC A 16B/04)
As EGNOS is coming online I think things will change. Only wish the UK would be at the front of the curve and not be caught sleeping as usual.