Status of safety investigations
Article 4
1
Member States shall define, in accordance with their legal systems, the legal status of the safety investigation in such a way that such investigations can be carried out as effectively and rapidly as possible.
Member States shall ensure, in accordance with their legislation and, where appropriate, through collaboration with the authorities responsible for the judicial inquiry, that safety investigations are:
a
independent of criminal or other parallel investigations held to determine liability or apportion blame; and
b
not unduly precluded, suspended or delayed by reason of such investigations.
2
The rules to be established by the Member States shall include, in accordance with the permanent cooperation framework referred to in Article 10, provisions for allowing:
a
cooperation and mutual assistance in safety investigations led by other Member States, or the delegation to another Member State of the task of leading such an investigation in accordance with Article 7; and
b
coordination of the activities of their respective investigative bodies to the extent necessary to attain the objective of this Directive.