I think that's a great idea in principle, but I'd bet it'll never happen. The constituent states will never agree on a format that will work across each individual country especially when it comes to how and who trains pilots (and to what standard in each country - ensuring each instructor in each country teaches the rating to the same level)? Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the IMC rating in the UK isn't a good thing or that it doesn't work - just that other people in Europe don't think it's a good thing. Whether something is safe and whether something is considered safe is two different things. Don't give people knowledge... next thing you know they'll be thinking! And thinking leads to ideas... can't have that!

Also, I'd be interested to know where that statistic came from (1 death in 40 years)... how was that directly attributed to the pilot having/not having the IMC rating?