Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/68 is amended as follows:

1. (1)

   in Article 2, the following points (k), (l) and (m) are added:

   1. ‘(k)

      “Trans European Services for Telematics between Administrations system (‘Testa’)” means a telecommunications interconnection platform for secure information exchange between the public administrations in the Union;

   2. (l)

      “direct access to TACHOnet” means the connection to the TACHOnet messaging system of a national electronic register via a Testa connection managed by the Member State hosting the register;

   3. (m)

      “indirect access to TACHOnet” means the connection to the TACHOnet messaging system of a national electronic register via a Testa connection managed by a Member State not hosting the register.’;

2. (2)

   the following Articles 3a and 3b are inserted:

   ‘Article 3aConnection by third countries

   Subject to the approval of the Commission, third countries may connect their electronic registers to the TACHOnet messaging system if they comply with this Regulation.

   Article 3bPreliminary tests

   The connection of a national electronic register to the TACHOnet messaging system, be it through direct or indirect access, shall be established after the successful completion of connection, integration and performance tests in accordance with the instructions and under the supervision of the Commission.

   In case of failure of the preliminary tests, the Commission may temporarily put on hold the testing phase. The tests shall resume once the responsible national authority has communicated to the Commission the adoption of the necessary technical improvements at national level allowing the successful performance of the preliminary tests.

   The maximum duration of the preliminary tests shall be six months.’;

3. (3)

   the following Article 5a is inserted:

   ‘Article 5aIndirect access to TACHOnet

   1.

   A national authority requesting indirect access to TACHOnet shall submit the following documents to the Commission:

   (a)

   a letter signed by a representative of the national authority requesting the Commission to start the testing phase for providing indirect access to TACHOnet;

   (b)

   an application for indirect access to TACHOnet in the format set out in Annex IX;

   (c)

   the bilateral contract between the national authority requesting indirect access and the national authority providing that access through its Testa connection, signed by representatives of both national authorities.

   2.

   No later than two months after the submission of the documents referred to in paragraph 1, the Commission shall request the national authority concerned to submit the technical information necessary to start the preliminary tests referred to in Article 3b.

   3.

   Indirect access to TACHOnet shall not be provided until the requirements set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 have been fulfilled.’;

4. (4)

   Annexes I, II, III, VI, VII and VIII are amended in accordance with Annex I to this Regulation;

5. (5)

   Annex IX is added as set out in Annex II to this Regulation.