6.

The requested competent authority may refuse to act on a request for an investigation to be carried out as provided for in the first subparagraph of paragraph 5, or on a request for its personnel to be accompanied by personnel of a competent authority of another Member State as provided for in the second subparagraph of paragraph 5, in the following cases: where such an investigation or on-site inspection might breach national security rules or adversely affect the sovereignty, security or public order of the requested Member State; where judicial proceedings have already been initiated in respect of the same actions and against the same persons before the authorities of the requested Member State; where a final judgment has already been delivered in respect of the same actions and the same persons by the authorities of the requested Member State.

← art_31__para_5__text_3 · All articles · art_31__para_6__text_1 →

Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-10-12 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.