UK PPL Night Rating abroad in a SEP

[RedsBluesGreens]

UK PPL Night Rating in Belgium in a SEP

Hi all,

I am planning to spend a day in France or Belgium soon, with a return at night. I fly a G-registered single engine a/c.

As I understand it, many European countries do not allow night flying in a SEP unless you file an IFR flightplan. I don't have an IR, but can I file an IFR flightplan and still fly in VMC? Would that even get round the issue of flying at night in a SEP until I get to the UK FIR boundary?

Any feedback and advice on this issue would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!