30.7.2005 EN Official Journal of the European Union 2. The competent authority shall consult the authority or authorities which, in the preceding three years, dismissed an application for authorisation of an import or export or the supply of technical assistance under this Regulation, if it receives an application concerning an import or export or the supply of technical assistance involving an essentially identical transaction referred to in such earlier application and considers that an authorisation should, nevertheless, be granted. 3. If, after such consultations, the competent authority decides to grant an authorisation, it shall immediately inform all the authorities listed in Annex I of its decision and explain the reasons for its decision, submitting supporting information as appropriate. 4. The refusal to grant an authorisation, if it is based on a national prohibition in accordance with Article 7(1), shall not constitute a decision dismissing an application within the meaning of paragraph 1. L 200/7 the consignees and, if they are not the same, of the end-users as well as the goods concerned. 3. Member States, if possible in cooperation with the Commission, shall make a public, annual activity report, providing information on the number of applications received, on the goods and countries concerned by these applications, and on the decisions they have taken on these applications. This report shall not include information the disclosure of which a Member State considers to be contrary to the essential interests of its security. 4. Except for the supply of information mentioned in paragraph 2 to the authorities of the other Member State and to the Commission, this Article shall be without prejudice to applicable national rules concerning confidentiality and professional secrecy. 5. The refusal to grant an authorisation, if it is based on a national prohibition adopted in accordance with Article 7(1), shall not constitute an authorisation refused within the meaning of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this Article. CHAPTER V General and final provisions Article 14 Article 12 Use of information Amendment of Annexes Without prejudice to Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents (1) and national legislation on public access to documents, information received pursuant to this Regulation shall be used only for the purpose for which it was requested. 1. The Commission shall be empowered to amend Annex I. The data regarding competent authorities of the Member States shall be amended on the basis of information supplied by the Member States. 2. In accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 15(2), the Commission shall be empowered to amend Annexes II, III, IV and V. Article 13 Exchange of information between Member States' authorities and the Commission 1. Without prejudice to Article 11, the Commission and the Member States shall, upon request, inform each other of the measures taken under this Regulation and supply each other with any relevant information at their disposal in connection with this Regulation, in particular information on authorisations granted and refused. Article 15 Committee procedure 1. The Commission shall be assisted by the committee on common rules for exports of products, set up by Article 4(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 2603/69 (2). 2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 5 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply. The period laid down in Article 5(6) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at two months. 3. 2. Relevant information on authorisations granted and refused shall comprise at least the type of decision, the grounds for the decision or a summary thereof, the names of The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure. (1) OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 43. (2) OJ L 324, 27.12.1969, p. 25. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3918/91 (OJ L 372, 31.12.1991, p. 31).