Article 19
Settlement of disagreements between competent authorities in cross-border situations
1.
In cases specified in the legislative acts referred to in Article 1(2) and without prejudice to the powers laid down in Article 17, the Authority may assist the competent authorities in reaching an agreement in accordance with the procedure set out in paragraphs 2 to 4 of this Article in either of the following circumstances:
(a)
at the request of one or more of the competent authorities concerned where a competent authority disagrees with the procedure or content of an action, proposed action, or inactivity of another competent authority;
(b)
in cases where the legislative acts referred to in Article 1(2) provide that the Authority may assist, on its own initiative, where on the basis of objective reasons, disagreement can be determined between competent authorities.
In cases where the legislative acts referred to in Article 1(2) require a joint decision to be taken by competent authorities and where, in accordance with those acts, the Authority may assist, on its own initiative, in reaching an agreement in accordance with the procedure set out in paragraphs 2 to 4 of this Article, the competent authorities concerned, a disagreement shall be presumed in the absence of a joint decision being taken by those authorities within the time limits set out in those acts.
1a.
The competent authorities concerned shall, in the following cases, notify the Authority without undue delay that an agreement has not been reached:
(a)
where a time limit for reaching an agreement between competent authorities has been provided for in the legislative acts referred to in Article 1(2), and either of the following occurs:
(i)
the time limit has expired; or
(ii)
at least two competent authorities concerned conclude that a disagreement exists, on the basis of objective reasons;
(b)
where no time limit for reaching an agreement between competent authorities has been provided for in the legislative acts referred to in Article 1(2), and either of the following occurs:
(i)
at least two competent authorities concerned conclude that a disagreement exists on the basis of objective reasons; or
(ii)
two months have elapsed from the date of receipt by a competent authority of a request from another competent authority to take certain action in order to comply with those acts and the requested authority has not yet adopted a decision that satisfies the request.
1b.
The Chairperson shall assess whether the Authority should act in accordance with paragraph 1. Where the intervention is at the Authority’s own initiative, the Authority shall notify the competent authorities concerned of its decision regarding the intervention.
Pending the Authority’s decision in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 44(3a), in cases where the legislative acts referred to in Article 1(2) require a joint decision to be taken, all competent authorities involved in the joint decision shall defer their individual decisions. Where the Authority decides to act, all the competent authorities involved in the joint decision shall defer their decisions until the procedure set out in paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article is concluded.
2.
The Authority shall set a time limit for conciliation between the competent authorities taking into account any relevant time periods specified in the acts referred to in Article 1(2) and the complexity and urgency of the matter. At that stage the Authority shall act as a mediator.
3.
Where the competent authorities concerned fail to reach an agreement within the conciliation phase referred to in paragraph 2, the Authority may take a decision requiring those authorities to take specific action, or to refrain from certain action, in order to settle the matter, and to ensure compliance with Union law. The decision of the Authority shall be binding on the competent authorities concerned. The Authority’s decision may require competent authorities to revoke or amend a decision that they have adopted or to make use of the powers which they have under the relevant Union law.
3a.
The Authority shall notify the competent authorities concerned of the conclusion of the procedures under paragraphs 2 and 3 together with, where applicable, its decision taken under paragraph 3.
4.
Without prejudice to the powers of the Commission pursuant to Article 258 TFEU, where a competent authority does not comply with the decision of the Authority, and thereby fails to ensure that a financial institution or, in the context of matters relating to the prevention and countering of money laundering or of terrorist financing, a financial sector operator complies with requirements directly applicable to it by virtue of the legislative acts referred to in Article 1(2) of this Regulation, the Authority may adopt an individual decision addressed to that financial institution or financial sector operator requiring it to take all necessary action to comply with its obligations under Union law, including the cessation of any practice.
In matters concerning the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering or of terrorist financing, the Authority may also adopt a decision in accordance with the first subparagraph of this paragraph where the relevant requirements of the legislative acts referred to in Article 1(2) are not directly applicable to financial sector operators. To that effect, the Authority shall apply all relevant Union law, and where such Union law is composed of Directives, national law to the extent that it transposes those Directives. Where the relevant Union law is composed of Regulations and where those Regulations explicitly grant options for Member States, the Authority shall apply also national law to the extent that such options have been exercised.
5.
Decisions adopted under paragraph 4 shall prevail over any previous decision adopted by the competent authorities on the same matter. Any action by the competent authorities in relation to facts which are subject to a decision pursuant to paragraph 3 or 4 shall be compatible with those decisions.
6.
In the report referred to in Article 50(2), the Chairperson of the Authority shall set out the nature and type of disagreements between competent authorities, the agreements reached and the decisions taken to settle such disagreements.