(3)

the following Articles 3a, 3b and 3c are inserted: ‘Article 3a Means of communication to be used by transmitting and receiving agencies, and central bodies 1. The transmission of documents, requests , including the requests drawn up using the standard forms in Annex I , confirmations, receipts, certificates and any other communication carried out on the basis of the standard forms in Annex I between the transmitting agencies and receiving agencies, between those agencies and the central bodies, or between the central bodies of the different Member States shall be transmitted carried out through a decentralised IT system composed of national IT systems interconnected by a communication infrastructure enabling the secure, and reliable and in real time cross-border exchange of information between the national IT systems. Such decentralised IT system shall be based on e-CODEX and it shall be supported by Union funding. [Am. 16] 2. The general legal framework for the use of qualified trust services set out in Council Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 (*1) shall apply to the documents, requests, confirmations, receipts, certificates and any communication transmitted through the decentralised IT system referred to in paragraph 1. [Am. 17] 3. Where the documents, requests, confirmations, receipts, certificates and other communication referred to in paragraph 1 require or feature a seal or handwritten signature, the appropriate ‘qualified electronic seals’ and ‘qualified electronic signatures’ as defined in Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council may be used instead , provided that it is fully ensured that the person on whom the aforementioned documents are served has obtained knowledge of the documents in sufficient time and in a lawful manner . [Am. 18] 4. If transmission in accordance with paragraph 1 is not possible due to an unforeseen and unforeseen circumstances or an exceptional disruption of the decentralised IT system, transmission shall be carried out by the swiftest possible alternative means , guaranteeing the same high level of efficiency, reliability, security and protection of privacy and personal data . [Am. 19] 4a. The fundamental rights and freedoms of all persons involved, and in particular the right to the protection of personal data and privacy, shall be fully observed and respected. [Am. 20] 4b. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 18 in order to supplement this Regulation by establishing the detailed arrangements for the functioning of the decentralised IT system. When exercising that power, the Commission shall ensure that the system guarantees an effective, reliable and smooth exchange of the relevant information, as well as a high level of security in the transmission and the protection of privacy and personal data in line with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and Directive 2002/58/EC. [Am. 21] Article 3b Costs of establishing the decentralised IT system 1. Each Member State shall bear the costs of the installation, operation and maintenance of its communication infrastructure access points interconnecting the national IT systems in the context of the decentralised IT system referred to in Article 3a. 2. Each Member State shall bear the costs of establishing and adjusting its national IT systems to make them interoperable with the communication infrastructure, as well as the costs of administering, operating and maintaining those systems. 3. Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be without prejudice to the possibility to apply for grants to support activities referred to in those paragraphs under the Union’s financial programmes. Article 3c Assistance in address enquiries 1. Where the address of the person to be served with the judicial or extrajudicial document in another Member State is not known, Member States shall provide assistance , without undue delay and in any case within 10 working days, by one or more of the following means: [Am. 22] (a) judicial assistance to determine the address of the person to be served by designated authorities upon the request of the court of the Member State seized with a proceeding; (b) the possibility for persons from other Member States to submit requests for information on addresses directly to domicile registers or other publicly accessible databases including electronically, by means of a standard form via the European e-justice Portal; (c) detailed practical guidance , which is accessible online, on the mechanisms available for the determination of the addresses of persons within the framework of the European Judicial Network in civil and commercial matters and with a view to making the information available to the public. [Am. 23] 2. Each Member State shall provide the Commission with the following information: (a) the method methods of assistance which the Member State will provide in its territory pursuant to paragraph 1; [Am. 24] (b) where applicable, the names and addresses of the authorities referred to in paragraph (1) (a) and (b); Member States shall notify the Commission of any subsequent modification of that information. (*1) Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market and repealing Directive 1999/93/EC (OJ L 257, 28.8.2014, p. 73).’;"