Acceptance of third-country certification
Article 68
1. The Agency and the national competent authorities may either issue the certificates provided for in this Regulation, and in the delegated and implementing acts adopted on the basis thereof, on the basis of certificates issued in accordance with the laws of a third country, or accept certificates and other relevant documentation attesting compliance with civil aviation rules which were issued in accordance with the laws of a third country, where such possibility is provided for in: (a) international agreements concerning the recognition of certificates concluded between the Union and a third country; (b) the delegated acts adopted on the basis of paragraph 3; or (c) in the absence of an international agreement and of a relevant delegated act as referred to in points (a) and (b) of this paragraph respectively, and without prejudice to Article 140(6) of this Regulation, an agreement concerning the recognition of certificates concluded between a Member State and a third country before the entry into force of Regulation (EC) No 1592/2002 that has been notified to the Commission and the other Member States in accordance with point (a) of Article 9(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1592/2002 or point (a) of Article 12(2) of Regulation (EC) No 216/2008. 2. In order to achieve and maintain confidence in the regulatory systems of third countries, the Agency shall be authorised to conduct the necessary technical assessments and evaluations of the laws of third countries and of foreign aviation authorities. For the purpose of conducting such assessments and evaluations, the Agency may conclude working arrangements in accordance with Article 90(2). 3. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 128 laying down detailed rules with regard to the acceptance of certificates and other documentation attesting to compliance with civil aviation rules issued in accordance with the laws of a third country and ensuring an equivalent level of safety to that provided for in this Regulation, including the conditions and procedures for achieving and maintaining the necessary confidence in regulatory systems of third countries.