I think that
being a licence
endorsed to the effect that the holder does not satisfy in full the relevant
minimum standards established under the Chicago Convention
means that sub ICAO licenses (e.g. some foreign version of the UK NPPL like the US Sports Pilot license) or licenses with a sub ICAO medical (e.g. an ICAO PPL with a special concession medical valid only in the issuer's airspace) are not valid for this purpose.
That would be reasonable. Almost nobody validates sub ICAO licenses.
I don't think the French have any say in this at all - short of a specific ban.
An FAA PPL is 100% ICAO compliant.