AOPA pointed out to the CAA at least a year ago that there was no EASA requirement for that 'Q X-C' certificate, as it has come to be termed.
But then they went through their GA-perestroika, so I've no idea whether the topic has been addressed further.
Whopity, in April 1968 I flew my Q X-C (Cranfield - (Henlow) - Cambridge - Ipswich - (Henlow) - Cranfield) before my PPL test, so no - it certainly wasn't always the last item flown before a candidate applied for a PPL.