- 1.
- Where an enterprise considers that, in any case to which this Agreement applies, the principles set out in Article 4 have not been observed, it may, irrespective of the remedies provided by the domestic law of the Party concerned, present its case to the competent authority of the Party of which it is an enterprise. The case must be presented within three years of the first notification of the action which is contrary or is likely to be contrary to the principles set out in Article 4. The competent authority shall then without delay notify the competent authority of the other Party.
- 2.
- The competent authority shall endeavour, if the objection appears to it to be justified and if it is not itself able to arrive at a satisfactory solution, to resolve the case by mutual agreement with the competent authority of the other Party, with a view to the avoidance of taxation which is not in accordance with the Agreement. Any agreement reached shall be implemented notwithstanding any time limits in the domestic law of the Parties.
- 3.
- The competent authorities of the Parties may communicate with each other directly for the purpose of reaching an agreement in the sense of the preceding paragraph.
- 4.
- The competent authority of a Party shall not be obliged to initiate the mutual agreement procedure where legal or administrative proceedings have resulted in a final ruling that by actions giving rise to an adjustment of transfers of profits under Article 4 one of the enterprises concerned is liable to a serious penalty. In addition, the competent authority of a Party shall not be obliged to initiate the mutual agreement procedure if the enterprise has not fulfilled the domestic documentation and/or information requirements of the adjusting Party before the assessment in which the adjustment is incorporated was finalized.
- 5.
- The Parties may also agree on other forms of dispute resolution including arbitration.
- 6.
- Notwithstanding the previous paragraphs of this Article, the competent authorities of the Parties may mutually agree to amend the procedures to be used under this Article taking into account the developments with respect to the EU Convention on the Elimination of Double Taxation in connection with the Adjustment of Profits of Associated Enterprises and the developments relating to the mutual agreement procedure discussion within the OECD.
