- 1
- The Competent Authorities and Competent Institutions responsible for the application of this Agreement shall:
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- a)to the extent permitted by the legislation which they administer, communicate to each other any information necessary for the application of this Agreement;
- b)lend their good offices and furnish assistance to one another (including the communication to each other of any information necessary) with regard to the determination or payment of any benefit under this Agreement or under the legislation to which this Agreement applies as if the matter involved the application of their own legislation;
- c)communicate to each other, as soon as possible, all information about the measures taken by them for the application of this Agreement or about changes in their respective legislation insofar as these changes affect the application of this Agreement;
- d)at the request of one to the other, assist each other in relation to the implementation of agreements on social security entered into by either of the Parties with third States, to the extent and in the circumstances specified in the Administrative Arrangement made in accordance with Article 25;
- e)jointly endeavour to resolve any difficulties or doubts arising as to the application of this Agreement.
- 2
- The assistance referred to in paragraph 1 shall be provided free of charge, subject to any arrangement reached between the Competent Authorities and Competent Institutions for the reimbursement of certain types of expenses.
- 3
- Unless disclosure is required under the laws of a Party, any information about an individual which is transmitted in accordance with this Agreement to a Competent Authority or a Competent Institution of that Party by a Competent Authority or a Competent Institution of the other Party is confidential and shall be used only for purposes of implementing this Agreement and the legislation to which this Agreement applies.
- 4
- In no case shall the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 3 be construed so as to impose on the Competent Authority or Competent Institution of a Party the obligation:
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- a)to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws or the administrative practice of that or the other Party, or
- b)to supply particulars which are not obtainable under the laws or, in the normal course of the administration of that or the other Party.
- 5
- Notwithstanding any laws or administrative practices of a Party, no information concerning a person which is received by that Party from the other Party shall be transferred or disclosed to any other country or to any organisation within that other country without the prior written consent of that other Party.
- 6
- In the application of this Agreement, the Competent Authority and the Competent Institutions of a Party may communicate with the other in the official language of that Party.
