"I live in Europe and also hold an EASA Part-FCL PPL(A). These expire biannually and thus must be renewed with a FI"
Just to confirm:
If an EASA Rating (not Licence) expires, it has to be renewed by a Proficiency Check (test) with a Flight Examiner (not Instructor).
One of the methods of preventing an EASA SEP Rating from expiring is to have, amongst other things, a training flight (or flights) of at least one hour with an EASA Instructor.