The cloud that forms over European countries that has a right of "VFR on top" allowed within their PPL, has more holes than a pair of fishnet tights.
Coupled with which, the only advantage of having an IMCR, outside of the UK, is that in the countries where "VFR on top" is allowed, you can do that too - which you can't with a normal CAA or UK JAR PPL.
See GASIL February 2004, page 9.
http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/SRG_GAD_GASIL2OF2004.PDF
How you get above or back down through the cloud requires that suspiciously convenient hole....
