Exchange of confidential data - enabling clause
Article 16
1. The exchange of confidential data, which are collected or compiled pursuant to this Regulation, shall be allowed between the NSAs of Member States concerned, their respective national central banks, the ECB and the Commission (Eurostat) for statistical purposes only, where the exchange is necessary to safeguard the quality and comparability of European business statistics or national accounts in line with the concepts and methodology of Regulation (EU) No 549/2013. 2. NSAs, the national central banks, the Commission (Eurostat) and the ECB that have obtained confidential data shall treat that information confidentially and shall use it exclusively for statistical purposes in accordance with Articles 20 to 26 of Regulation (EC) No 223/2009.