Article 25g General investigations
1. In order to carry out its duties under this Regulation, ESMA may conduct necessary investigations of Tier 2 CCPs and related third parties to whom those CCPs have outsourced operational functions, services or activities. To that end, the officials and other persons authorised by ESMA shall be empowered to:
(a) examine any records, data, procedures and any other material relevant to the execution of its tasks irrespective of the medium on which they are stored;
(b) take or obtain certified copies of or extracts from such records, data, procedures and other material;
(c) summon and ask Tier 2 CCPs or their representatives or staff for oral or written explanations on facts or documents relating to the subject matter and purpose of the inspection and to record the answers;
(d) interview any other natural or legal person who consents to be interviewed for the purpose of collecting information relating to the subject matter of an investigation;
(e) request records of telephone and data traffic.
The central banks of issue referred to in point (f) of Article 25(3) may, upon a reasoned request to ESMA, participate in such investigations where those investigations are relevant for the carrying out of their monetary policy tasks.
The third-country CCP college referred to in Article 25c shall be informed without undue delay of any findings that may be relevant for the execution of its tasks.
2. The officials and other persons authorised by ESMA for the purposes of the investigations referred to in paragraph 1 shall exercise their powers upon production of a written authorisation specifying the subject matter and purpose of the investigation. That authorisation shall also indicate the periodic penalty payments provided for in Article 25k where the production of the required records, data, procedures or any other material, or the answers to questions asked to Tier 2 CCPs are not provided or are incomplete, and the fines provided for in Article 25j in conjunction with point (b) of Section V of Annex III, where the answers to questions asked to Tier 2 CCPs are incorrect or misleading.
3. Tier 2 CCPs are required to submit to investigations launched on the basis of a decision of ESMA. The decision shall specify the subject matter and purpose of the investigation, the periodic penalty payments provided for in Article 25k of this Regulation, the legal remedies available under Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010 and the right to have the decision reviewed by the Court of Justice.
4. Prior to notifying a Tier 2 CCP of an investigation, ESMA shall inform the relevant third-country competent authority where the investigation is to be carried out of the investigation and of the identity of the authorised persons. Officials of the third-country competent authority concerned may, upon the request of ESMA, assist those authorised persons in carrying out their duties. Officials of the third-country competent authority concerned may also attend the investigations. Investigations carried out in a third country in accordance with this Article shall be conducted pursuant to the cooperation arrangements established with the relevant third-country competent authority.