Timothy
Yes quite happily! The IMCR was pushed at EASA as a safety addon for the VFR pilot! The safety angle was shown to be the case especially regarding the attrocious French VFR accident rates compared to UK VFR accident rates.
As such they were forced to do something as an addon for VFR pilots which added some instrument capability and privalages without being a mini IR.
EASA would not put anything in place which would fight with their own beloved IR so put in the EIR which would be an enroute to the IR ie a modular part of the IR.
Basically they have added their own acceptable IMCR and acceptable means without approaches.
Pace