CHAPTER 4 Powers of the competent authorities of the host Member State

Article 40

The competent authorities of the host Member States may require that all credit institutions having branches within their territories shall report to them periodically on their activities in those host Member States.

Such reports shall only be required for information or statistical purposes, for the application of Article 51(1), or for supervisory purposes in accordance with this Chapter. They shall be subject to professional secrecy requirements at least equivalent to those referred to in Article 53(1).

The competent authorities of the host Member States may in particular require information from the credit institutions referred to in the first subparagraph in order to allow those competent authorities to assess whether a branch is significant in accordance with Article 51(1).

Article 42

Any measure taken pursuant to Article 41(1), or Article 43 or 44 involving penalties or restrictions on the exercise of the freedom to provide services or the freedom of establishment shall be properly reasoned and communicated to the credit institution concerned.

Article 44

Host Member States may, notwithstanding Articles 40 and 41, exercise the powers conferred on them under this Directive to take appropriate measures to prevent or to punish breaches committed within their territories of the rules they have adopted pursuant to this Directive or in the interests of the general good. This shall include the possibility of preventing offending credit institutions from initiating further transactions within their territories.

Article 45

In the event of withdrawal of authorisation, the competent authorities of the home Member State shall inform the competent authorities of the host Member State without delay. The competent authorities of the host Member State shall take appropriate measures to prevent the credit institution concerned from initiating further transactions within its territory and to safeguard the interests of depositors.

Article 46

Nothing in this Chapter shall prevent credit institutions with head offices in other Member States from advertising their services through all available means of communication in the host Member State, subject to any rules governing the form and the content of such advertising adopted in the interests of the general good.