- 1
- For the purpose of this Article:
-
- a)“information” shall at least include information regarding identity, address, household, work, income, state of health, detention and death;
- b)“agency” means any organisation competent with respect to the information, referred to in subparagraph a).
- 2
- With regard to an application for or the legitimacy of payment of benefit, the competent institution of one Contracting State shall, at the request of the competent institution of the other Contracting State, verify the information regarding an applicant, a beneficiary or a member of the family. If necessary, this verification shall be carried out together with the agencies. The competent institution shall forward a statement of verification along with authenticated copies of the relevant documents to the competent institution of the other Contracting State.
- 3
- Notwithstanding paragraph 2, the competent institution of one Contracting State shall, without prior request and to the extent possible, inform the competent institution of the other Contracting State of any changes in the information regarding an applicant, a beneficiary or a member of the family.
- 4
- The competent institutions and the competent authorities of the Contracting States may contact each other, as well as the applicants, the beneficiaries, the member of their families, or their representatives, directly.
- 5
- Notwithstanding paragraph 2, the diplomatic or consular representatives and the competent institutions of one Contracting State are allowed to contact the agencies of the other Contracting State directly in order to verify entitlement to benefit and legitimacy of payments to the beneficiaries.
- 6
- For the purposes of implementing this Agreement, the agencies shall lend their good offices and act as though implementing their own legislation. The administrative assistance furnished by the agencies shall be free of charge.
