OhnoCB:
Thank you, I stand corrected. Buried deep in FCL Part L Appendix 3 is this defintion of the flying syllabus for the EASA ATPL:
The flying training, not including type rating training, shall comprise a total of at least 195 hours, to include all progress tests, of which up to 55 hours for the entire course may be instrument ground time. Within the total of 195 hours, applicants shall complete at least:
(a) 95 hours of dual instruction, of which up to 55 hours may be instrument ground time;
(b) 70 hours as PIC, including VFR flight and instrument flight time as student pilotin-command (SPIC). The instrument flight time as SPIC shall only be counted as PIC flight time up to a maximum of 20 hours;
(c) 50 hours of cross-country flight as PIC, including a VFR cross-country flight of at
least 540 km (300 NM), in the course of which full stop landings at two aerodromes
different from the aerodrome of departure shall be made;
(d) 5 hours flight time shall be completed at night, comprising 3 hours of dual
instruction, which will include at least 1 hour of cross-country navigation and 5 solo take-offs and 5 solo full stop landings; and
(e) 115 hours of instrument time comprising, at least:
(1) 20 hours as SPIC;
(2) 15 hours MCC, for which an FFS or FNPT II may be used;
(3) 50 hours of instrument flight instruction, of which up to:
(i) 25 hours may be instrument ground time in a FNPT I, or
(ii) 40 hours may be instrument ground time in a FNPT II, FTD 2 or FFS, of
which up to 10 hours may be conducted in an FNPT I.
An applicant holding a course completion certificate for the Basic Instrument
Flight Module shall be credited with up to 10 hours towards the required instrument
instruction time. Hours done in a BITD shall not be credited.
(f) 5 hours to be carried out in an aeroplane certificated for the carriage of at least 4
persons that has a variable pitch propeller and retractable landing gear.
So, for the OP; yes, you can count some synthetic time towards the licence requirement.