As far as the IMCr is concerned, my uninformed guess is that there won't ever be an EASA IMC rating - too many Member States are against the idea - but a national UK CAA one will continue once the CAA make a differences filing with the EC. Surely even the Commission can't make the UK bin a rating that directly contributes to flight safety? Or am I being naive?
Great news that a member of PPL/IR has made it onto the WG. Hopefully a sensible PPL IR will be the result. It could be a double-edged sword however, as a non-commercially biased European PPL IR could sound the death knell for N reg aircraft based in EASA land.
jez