1.The Commission shall, within 5 weeks of the date of notification of the complete draft intergovernmental agreement or amendment, including any annexes thereto, pursuant to Article 3(2), inform the Member State concerned of any doubts it may have as to the compatibility with Union law of the draft intergovernmental agreement or amendment. In the absence of a response from the Commission within that period, the Commission shall be deemed not to have any such doubts.
2.Where the Commission informs the Member State concerned pursuant to paragraph 1 that it has doubts, it shall provide the Member State concerned with its opinion on the compatibility with Union law, in particular with internal energy market rules and Union competition law, of the draft intergovernmental agreement or amendment within 12 weeks of the date of notification referred to in paragraph 1. In the absence of an opinion from the Commission within that period, the Commission shall be deemed not to have raised any objections.
3.With the approval of the Member State concerned, the periods referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 may be extended. The periods referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be shortened in agreement with the Commission if circumstances so warrant, in order to ensure that the negotiations are concluded in due time.
4.The Member State shall not sign, ratify or agree to the draft intergovernmental agreement or amendment until the Commission has informed the Member State of any doubts, in accordance with paragraph 1, or, where applicable, has issued its opinion in accordance with paragraph 2, or, in the absence of a response or opinion from the Commission, until the period referred to in paragraph 1 or, where applicable, that referred to in paragraph 2, has elapsed.
Before signing, ratifying or agreeing to an intergovernmental agreement or amendment, the Member State concerned shall take utmost account of the Commission's opinion referred to in paragraph 2.