Hi Mitch
I think you may be confusing the requirements of a qualifying cross country flight (for issue of a licence etc.) and a cross country flight as logged in your personal log book.
I haven't been able to find a definition, as such, in European regulations or ICAO references but basically if you depart an airfield, navigate your way around, out of the circuit, and land at an airfield (even the same one you departed from) you will have completed a cross country flight and log it as such. The CAA used to require the flight was at least 4 miles from the point of departure but I don't think that exists anymore.
Cheers
TeeS