Originally Posted by From AOPA link
It is widely believed, still, that it [the IMC] is a ‘poor man’s instrument rating’ which allows access to controlled airspace and will clutter the ILSs of Europe with light singles
The more vociferous critics of FCL.008 seem to want to use the IMCr in exactly this way.
FCL.008 is a European working group, not a 'save the UK IMCr' group. That is AOPA UK's roll and the referenced document makes clear that AOPA UK is on the case to save the IMCr. However, it is pointless to put the IMCr on the agenda for Europe without some understanding of the reality of the airspace and regulation differences. It is equally silly to try to legislate a European rating that is then locally banned by all countries other than the UK! (unless of course it is a necessary fudge to save the IMCr - but at least it would be a conscious fudge rather than a waste of legislative time)
It is predominantly the UK that uses low level Class A to separate GAT and CAT activity. Most other countries allow these activities to co-exist in most/all airspace below FL195. As such, a Euro-IMCr constructed along the lines of the UK IMCr, would be exactly what the AOPA link says it wouldn't be. It would allow people access to pretty much every cubic meter of airspace outside Italy and the Paris TMA. It would be equally reasonable for the rest of Europe to insist the UK reclassify all Class A airways below FL195 as Class D/E.