The IMC rating is just an IR with 15 hours of the training.
I believe it is statements such as this that got EASA all worked up
over the IMC in the first place - and it is not correct.
One specific example: The IMC is restricted to UK airspace whose
Airways are all (I think) Class A and an IMC Rating does not give the
privilege of IFR flight in Class A - therefore the IMC Rating does not allow
flight in Airways.