Secure communication channel
Article 13
1. Member States shall ensure that their Single Point of Contact or their competent law enforcement authorities use Europol’s Secure Information Exchange Network Application (SIENA) to send requests for information, to provide information pursuant to such requests or to provide information on its or their own initiative under Chapter II or III or under Article 12. 2. Member States may permit their Single Point of Contact or their competent law enforcement authorities not to use SIENA to send requests for information, to provide information pursuant to such requests or to provide information on its or their own initiative under Chapter II or III or under Article 12 in one or more of the following cases: (a) the exchange of information requires the involvement of third countries or international organisations or there are objective reasons to believe that such involvement will be required at a later stage, including through the Interpol communication channel; (b) the urgency of the request for information requires the temporary use of another communication channel; (c) an unexpected technical or operational incident prevents their Single Point of Contact or their competent law enforcement authorities from using SIENA to exchange the information. 3. Member States shall ensure that their Single Point of Contact, and all their competent law enforcement authorities that might be involved in the exchange of information under this Directive, are directly connected to SIENA, including, where appropriate, through mobile devices.