Indeed the European Crackpot Association.
Basically they will do ANYTHING to reduce the number of pilots daring to want to venture into the airspace these people think is theirs - and they also want to venture increasingly often into the 'open FIR' when hauling drunken hen parties and sink-estate trash to various European watering holes to drink themselves into oblivion....
They haven't realised - or perhaps don't wish to understand - that Mode S, Level 4 ICAO English and other requirements will naturally reduce the number of non-UK people able to use the UK IMCR flight test outside the UK, were it to be permitted.
The ECA is being exceptionally dog-in-the-manger over this. Or rather their somewhat vociferous spokesperson is. Regrettably the case for the UK IMCR wasn't presented by anyone with experience of the Rating and its uses........
On another tack, I know learn that anyone stupid enough to bother with the LAPL won't receive any credit towards the EAS-FCL PPL(A)....
That was one of the chief requirements we had for the NPPL - a straightforward upgrade process from NPPL(SSEA) to JAR-FCL PPL(A).....
Neither am I convinced that the PPL/IR clique are terribly interested in promoting the UK IMCR.......