Article 5
Right to be heard by ESMA with regard to interim decisions imposing fines
1. By way of derogation from Articles 2 and 3 of this Regulation, the procedure set out in this Article shall apply where ESMA adopts interim decisions imposing fines pursuant to the second subparagraph of Article 25l(1) of Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 without first hearing the persons subject to investigations.
2. The investigation officer shall submit the file with his or her findings to ESMA and immediately inform the person subject to investigation of his or her findings but shall not provide that person with the opportunity to make submissions. The statement of findings of the investigation officer shall set out the facts liable to constitute one or more of the infringements listed in Annex III to Regulation (EU) No 648/2012, including any aggravating or mitigating factors of those infringements.
Where so requested, the investigation officer shall grant access to the file to the person subject to investigation.
3. Where ESMA considers that the facts described in the statement of findings of the investigation officer appear not to constitute an infringement listed in Annex III to Regulation (EU) No 648/2012, it shall decide to close the investigation and notify that decision to the person subject to investigation.
4. Where ESMA decides that one or more of the infringements listed in Annex III to Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 has been committed by a person subject to investigation and adopts an interim decision imposing fines in accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 25l(1) of that Regulation, ESMA shall immediately notify that interim decision to that person.
ESMA shall set a reasonable time limit within which a person subject to investigation may make written submissions on the interim decision. ESMA shall not be obliged to take into account written submissions received after the expiry of that time limit.
Where so requested, ESMA shall grant access to the file to the persons subject to the investigation.
ESMA may invite the persons subject to investigation to attend an oral hearing. The persons subject to investigation may be assisted by their lawyers, or by other qualified persons admitted by ESMA. Oral hearings shall not be held in public.
5. ESMA shall hear the person subject to the investigation and take a final decision as soon as possible after the adoption of the interim decision.
Where ESMA considers, based on the complete file and after having heard the persons subject to investigation, that one or more of the infringements listed in Annex III to Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 has been committed by the person subject to investigation it shall adopt a confirmatory decision imposing fines in accordance with Article 25j of that Regulation. ESMA shall immediately notify that decision to the persons subject to investigation.
Where ESMA adopts a final decision that does not confirm the interim decision, the interim decision shall be deemed to be repealed.