Article 3 -- Risk-based approach (TCO model)

• MB Decision No 01-2023 found in: Third Country Operators (Jul 2026)

## Article 3 — Risk-based approach (TCO model) *MB Decision No 01-2023* 1. The Agency shall use a risk-based approach to help determine the Agency’s level of confidence in the AOC’s issued to third country operators. The Agency shall adequately allocate its resources and strengthen the assessment of TCOs for which it has a limited level of confidence. When deciding on the appropriate deployment of the Agency’s resources, consideration shall also be given to the third country operator’s exposure for the European citizens. 2. The Agency shall establish and maintain a TCO model to process data obtained from specified, trustworthy internal and external sources. Results of the TCO model are indicative and shall not be decisive for authorisation decisions. The use of TCO model results shall normally be restricted to internal use. Any request to the Agency for information by a Member State at any stage of the assessment or monitoring process should be justifiable and would normally be made on an exceptional basis and shared on a confidential basis. An example being that upon justifiable request by a Member State, the Agency may share with Member States on a confidential basis detailed information about its assessment, including TCO model results, if a negative authorisation decision was issued against an applicant exercising traffic rights in the territory of that Member State during the TCO transition period. 3. The TCO model shall consist of clearly specified parameters for both the State of operator and the operator and allow for continuous comparison of the safety performance of third country operators applying for or holding a TCO Authorisation.