1.Where no security of information agreement or administrative arrangement is in place, and where the Commission or one of its departments determines that there is an exceptional need in the context of an Union political or legal framework to release EUCI to a third State or international organisation, the Commission Security Authority shall, to the extent possible, verify with the security authorities of the third State or international organisation concerned that its security regulations, structures and procedures are such that EUCI released to it will be protected to standards no less stringent than those laid down in this Decision.
2.The decision to release the EUCI to the third State or international organisation concerned, shall, after consultation of the Commission Security Expert Group, be taken by the Commission on the basis of a proposal by the member of the Commission responsible for security matters.
3.Following the Commission's decision to release EUCI and subject to prior written consent of originator, including the originators of source material it may contain, the competent Commission department shall forward the information concerned, which shall bear a releasability marking indicating the third State or international organisation to which it has been released. Prior to or upon actual release, the third party in question shall undertake in writing to protect the EUCI it receives in accordance with the basic principles and minimum standards set out in this Decision.