acuba 290
The answer to your first post is yes and yes, from personal experience and nearby experience of many others
e.g.
Holding non-UK PPL
ATPL’s done in Bristol
ME-IR rating done in Spain
CPL done in the UK, above rating entered in the UK-JAA-CPL
Note1: CPL - if you want it to be UK-issued - must be done in a UK-CAA acknowledged FTO (located in UK, or the few in US, Oz, note UK-acknowledged FTE in Spain say they don’t do modular)
Note2: IR can be done in any JAA-FTO, but must be done on JAA-territory, i.e. not in US or Oz
birdlady
Similar to your posts, there exist various posts/threads here on PPRuNe (use search function) that indicate an apparent reluctance from the side of the French authorities and or french FTOs to operate in the harmonised way that is the intend of the whole JAA thing. Issues about FI’s alledgedly not being able to instruct in France, bizar experiences with the english language LPE tests in France. Anomalies that – if true – are not likely to be resolved until the EASA license will have come fully into effect (later than your planned return to SA).
If you have the possibility, then start looking outside of your area, e.g. UK (from whom you have your current PPL) or Spain (where various schools do IR’s and other ratings that are thereafter entered into UK-licenses). Whatever you do, call the UK-CAA (+441293573700) for first-hand info as your current license is issued by them.