One part of me actually thinks: I'm not sure I care what EASA do or say, because at the end of the day there is a limit to how much they can actually do about what goes on in the UK under the CAA.
The French have a history of breaking rules laid down by the EU and I doubt they would take a different view if EASA threatened to close down
Qualification Montagne, they will just carry on with it just like they did with the British beef ban.
It's similar to international law or the UN or things like the Geneva convention. They only get enforced when the countries who are in a position to do so feel their interests are threatened, and without that they are meaningless. Unlike laws and regulations of sovereign nations there is no police force and judical system to enforce them.
So ultimately if the CAA where to dig its heels in over the IMC rating and continue to issue them there would be f
k all EASA or anyone else for that matter could do about it.