S.L. 460.43 Art. 10Support to critical entities.          Cap. 50. Cap. 379.  Cap. 586.

(1) The CIP Department and designated competent authorities shall support critical entities in enhancing their resilience. Such support may include developing guidance materials and methodologies, supporting the organisation of exercises to test their resilience and providing advice and training to the personnel of critical entities. Without prejudice to applicable rules on State aid, the CIP Department or the designated competent authorities may recommend financial resources to critical entities, where necessary and justified by public interest objectives and national circumstances:

Provided that the CIP Department or the designated competent authorities may make recommendations to the Prime Minister for the support of financial resources to critical entities, in consultation with the Minister and the Minister responsible for the sector, sub-sector or type of entity in the Schedule. The financial support shall be without prejudice to the application of competition rules established in the TFEU:

Provided further that the designated competent authorities shall also notify the CIP Department when support to critical entities is provided.

(2) The CIP Department and the designated competent authorities shall cooperate and exchange information and good practices with critical entities of the sectors established in the Schedule.

(3) The CIP Department and the designated competent authorities of this order shall facilitate voluntary information sharing between critical entities in relation to matters covered by this order, in accordance with Union law on classified and sensitive information, competition and protection of personal data and national law including but not limited to the Official Secrets Act, the Competition Act and the

Data Protection Act.

(4) Where necessary and justified by public interest objectives, the CIP Department or the designated competent authorities shall facilitate voluntary information sharing and the exchange of good practices between critical entities.