Relationship to other instruments
Article 20
1. This Directive shall not preclude Member States from maintaining or concluding bilateral or multilateral agreements or arrangements between themselves on the exchange of information between competent authorities, insofar as such agreements or arrangements are compatible with Union law, in particular with this Directive. 2. This Directive is without prejudice to any obligations and commitments of Member States or of the Union under existing bilateral or multilateral agreements with third countries. 3. Without prejudice to the division of competences between the Union and the Member States, in accordance with Union law, Member States shall notify the Commission of their intention to enter into negotiations on, and to conclude, agreements between Member States and third countries that are contracting parties of the European Economic Area on matters falling within the scope of Chapter II of this Directive. If, within two months of receipt of notification of a Member State’s intention to enter into the negotiations referred to in the first subparagraph, the Commission concludes that the negotiations are likely to undermine relevant Union policies or to lead to an agreement which is incompatible with Union law, it shall inform the Member State accordingly. Member States shall keep the Commission regularly informed of any such negotiations and, where appropriate, invite the Commission to participate as an observer. Member States shall be authorised to apply provisionally or to conclude agreements referred to in the first subparagraph, provided that they are compatible with Union law and do not harm the object and purpose of the relevant policies of the Union. The Commission shall adopt such authorisation decisions by implementing acts. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 22.