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1. Member States shall work in close cooperation and provide each other with mutual assistance without undue delay in order to facilitate the implementation, application and enforcement in practice of this Directive and Directive 96/71/EC.

2. The cooperation of the Member States shall in particular consist in replying to reasoned requests for information from competent authorities and in carrying out checks, inspections and investigations with respect to the situations of posting referred to in Article 1(3) of Directive 96/71/EC, including the investigation of any non-compliance or abuse of applicable rules on the posting of workers. Requests for information include information with respect to a possible recovery of an administrative penalty and/or fine, or the notification of a decision imposing such a penalty and/or fine as referred to in Chapter VI.

3. The cooperation of the Member States may also include the sending and service of documents.

4. For the purpose of responding to a request for assistance from competent authorities in another Member State, Member States shall ensure that service providers established in their territory supply their competent authorities with all the information necessary for supervising their activities in compliance with their national laws. Member States shall take appropriate measures in the event of failure to provide such information.

5. In the event of difficulty in meeting a request for information or in carrying out checks, inspections or investigations, the Member State in question shall without delay inform the requesting Member State with a view to finding a solution. In the event of any persisting problems in the exchange of information or a permanent refusal to supply information, the Commission being informed, where relevant by means of IMI, shall take the appropriate measures.

6. Member States shall supply the information requested by other Member States or the Commission by electronic means within the following time limits:

(a) in urgent cases requiring the consultation of registers, such as those on confirmation of the VAT registration, for the purpose of checking an establishment in another Member State, as soon as possible and up to a maximum of two working days from the receipt of the request. The reason for the urgency shall be clearly indicated in the request, including some details to substantiate that urgency.

(b) in all other requests for information, up to a maximum of 25 working days from the receipt of the request, unless a shorter time limit is mutually agreed between the Member States.

7. Member States shall ensure that registers in which service providers have been entered, and which may be consulted by the competent authorities in their territory, may also be consulted, in accordance with the same conditions, by the equivalent competent authorities of the other Member States, for the purposes of implementing this Directive and Directive 96/71/EC, in so far as these registers are listed by the Member States in the IMI.

8. Member States shall ensure that the information exchanged by bodies referred to in point (a) of Article 2 or transmitted to them shall be used only in respect of the matter(s) for which it was requested.

9. Mutual administrative cooperation and assistance shall be provided free of charge.

10. A request for information shall not preclude the competent authorities from taking measures in accordance with the relevant national and Union law to investigate and prevent alleged breaches of Directive 96/71/EC or this Directive.