Article 16 Validity of the certificate

GENERAL

(a)The certificate has an indefinite duration but only remains valid as long as the competent authority has verified that the USSP and the single CIS provider continue to conform with the relevant requirements. For USSPs, the certificate is issued for a bundle of U-space services plus, where applicable, the supporting U-space services provided to support the four mandatory ones. The competent authority should check the validity of the certificate on a regular basis. To maintain their certificates valid once they have been issued, the USSPs and the single CIS providers must respect the conditions and limitations set out by the competent authority. Such conditions should be objectively justified, non-discriminatory, proportionate, and transparent.

(b)It is considered that when the certificate holder ceases its activities, the competent authority cannot assume that it continues to comply with the relevant requirements to ensure the reliable and safe provision of services.

(c)One task that may be performed by the competent authority is to conduct an operational and financial assessment of the certificate holder to evaluate whether additional conditions should be imposed or, in the worse-case scenario, take a decision affecting the certificate, with the possibility of ultimately revoking it.

CRITERIA FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF THE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF AN APPLICANT When assessing the operational and financial performance of an applicant, the competent authority or the Agency, as applicable, should ensure that the applicant:

(a)is able to meet its financial obligations, such as fixed and variable operational costs or capital investment costs, and uses an appropriate cost-accounting system; and

(b)demonstrate its ability through balance sheets and accounts, as applicable under their legal statute, and is regularly subject to an independent financial audit.