Now that is a confusing paragraph!
I take it to mean:-
a. You must hold the ME rating first either way.
b. JAR-FCL Training alternatives are:
i) 15 hours SE IR (inc. up to 5/10 hrs sim.) plus 5 hours ME IR (inc. up to 3 hrs sim.), plus ME IR Skill Test, or
ii) 15 hours ME IR (no sim.) plus ME IR Skill Test.
I think the "Alternatively" is meant to differentiate between i) & ii), the hours/sim. options, not holding the ME rating.