S.L. 164.6 Art. 5Establishment or designation and tasks and capabilities of the International Relations Unit. 6 [S.L.  S.L. 164.04.

(1) The International Relations Unit shall be the central entity responsible for coordinating and facilitating the exchange of information in accordance with these regulations.

(2) The International Relations Unit shall be equipped and empowered to carry out at least all of the following tasks:

(a) receiving and evaluating requests for information submitted in accordance with regulation 7(7) in the languages used by the Single Point of Contact;

(b) channelling requests for information to the relevant designated law enforcement authorities established in the Schedule and, where necessary, coordinating among them the processing of such requests and the provision of information pursuant to such requests;

(c) coordinating the analysis and structuring of information with a view to providing it to the Single Points of Contact of other Member States and, where applicable, to the competent law enforcement authorities of other Member States;

(d) providing, on request or on its own initiative, information to other Member States in accordance with regulations 8 and 10;

(e) refusing to provide information in accordance with regulation 9 and, where necessary, requesting clarification or specifications in accordance with regulation 9(6);

(f) sending requests for information to the Single BETWEEN NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES AND OTHER AUTHORITIES OF THE MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION HAVING 164.06 SIMILAR POWERS

Points of Contact of other Member States in accordance with regulation 7 and, where necessary, providing clarification or specifications in accordance with regulation 9(6).

(3) The International Relations Unit shall have access to all information available to the competent law enforcement authorities as necessary to carry out its tasks under these regulations.

(4) The International Relations Unit shall carry out its tasks twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week. It shall be provided with qualified staff, appropriate operational tools, technical and financial resources, infrastructure, and capabilities, including for translation, necessary to carry out its tasks in an adequate, effective, and rapid manner.

(5) For the purposes of regulation 12, the Single Point of Contact shall be granted judicial authorisations by the duty magistrate, who shall be available twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week, or the court hearing the case:

Provided that the designated law enforcement authorities listed in the Schedule shall collectively determine the organisation and the composition of the Single Point of Contact in such a manner that it can carry out its tasks in an efficient and effective manner.

(6) The International Relations Unit shall be composed of staff whose involvement is necessary for the adequate and rapid exchange of information, including at least the following in so far as Malta is bound by the relevant law or international agreement to establish or designate such units or bureaux:

(a) the Europol National Unit established by Article 7 of the Europol Regulation;

(b) the SIRENE Bureau as established by the

Schengen Information System (SIS) Regulations;

(c) the Interpol National Central Bureau established by Article 32 of the Constitution of the International Criminal Police Organisation – Interpol;

(7) The International Relations Unit shall inform the European Commission where there are changes in relation to its establishment or designation.