The ECB shall request the NCAs and NCBs to agree that on receipt of a request from a national criminal investigation authority for disclosure of confidential information related to the tasks conferred on the ECB by Regulation (EU) No 1024/2013, or to monetary policy or other ESCB/Eurosystem-related tasks, they consult the ECB, where possible, on how to respond to the request, irrespective of whether the ECB, or the NCA or NCB concerned holds the information in question. The ECB shall advise as to whether the information in question may be disclosed, and, where applicable, whether there are overriding reasons relating to the need to safeguard the interests of the Union or to avoid any interference with the functioning and independence of the ECB for refusing to disclose the confidential information concerned. The ECB shall advise the NCA or NCB, provided that it is consulted in a timely manner before the NCA or NCB makes a final decision and provides a final response to the request.

The ECB shall request the NCAs to agree to inform the ECB in a timely manner and, in any event, before providing a final response, of requests for confidential information received from national criminal investigation authorities concerning less significant credit institutions directly supervised by the NCA concerned in the exercise of its supervisory responsibilities under Regulation (EU) No 1024/2013, where that NCA considers that the information requested is material, or that disclosure thereof has the potential to adversely affect the reputation of the SSM. The ECB shall use its best efforts to provide its response by the deadline set by the NCA concerned, provided the deadline is reasonable, objectively justifiable and expires before the NCA takes a final decision and provides a final response to the national criminal investigation authority.

The ECB shall request the NCAs and the NCBs to agree to regularly inform the ECB of all requests from national criminal investigation authorities where the ECB was not consulted, in accordance with paragraph 1 or informed in accordance with paragraph 2, for reasons beyond their control and, if possible, of any information disclosed by reason of those requests.