Article 16a 3.

With regard to the prudential assessment of mergers and acquisitions falling within the scope of Directive 2014/65/EU and which according to that Directive require consultation between competent authorities from two or more Member States, the Authority may, at the request of one of the competent authorities concerned, issue and publish an opinion on a prudential assessment, except in relation to the criteria set out in in point (e) of Article 13(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU. The opinion shall be issued promptly and, in any event, before the end of the assessment period in accordance with Directive 2014/65/EU.