I've been searching for this a bit further, and under EASA the rule has changed. The phrase "sole manipulator of the controls" is no longer there. Instead, the full article is:
FCL.060 Recent experience
[...]
(b) Aeroplanes, helicopters, powered-lift, airships and sailplanes. A pilot shall not operate an aircraft in commercial air transport or carrying passengers:
(1) as PIC or co-pilot unless he/she has carried out, in the preceding 90 days, at least 3 take-offs, approaches and landings in an aircraft of the same type or class or an FFS representing that type or class. The 3 take-offs and
landings shall be performed in either multi-pilot or single-pilot operations, depending on the privileges held by the pilot; and
So the phrase has been changed into "...carried out..." and that would suggest not just manipulating the controls, but actually being in command.
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/...01:0193:EN:PDF
(And for reference, the quotes from LA are not the actual EU regulation, but are the accepted means of compliance and guidance materials. That document can be found here:
http://easa.europa.eu/agency-measure...20Part-FCL.pdf
Both documents should ideally be read together, but for some reason EASA doesn't present them as such. Heck, even the font type is different.)