This thread seems to have converged around the right answer
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Flight under IFR in France in illegal unless the person acting as PIC holds a valid Instrument Rating. This applies regardless of the prevailing Weather conditions, and the airspace in which the flight is conducted.
An instrument approach may be flown by a non-IR holder in France, providing that the clearance requested and accepted is a VFR clearance, and the flight is conducted within VMC minima, and providing that an appropriate person acts as lookout for the pilot, where vision-obscuring devices are used.
Where the pilot flying the approach is accompanied by a non-instructor IR holder. Should the need arise to conduct an instrument approach for real, the IR holder must act as PIC, and the initial PIC will need to relinquish command for logging purposes. Both pilots will need to satisfy themselves that matters such as insurance cover remain adequate following the change of commander.
Where the flight is instructional, and the supervising pilot is a qualified IR Instructor, the approach may be conducted either under an IFR or VFR clearance, as may be operationally appropriate. In the case of the IFR option being adopted, ATC will be responsible for assuring the aircraft's separation from other flights, to a degree defined by the class of airspace in which in the approach is being flown. Le Touquet is Class E. The level of protection practically offered for IFR flights is somewhat slight... Better keep the eyes peeled
