Na podlagi druge alinee prvega odstavka 107. člena in prvega odstavka 91. člena Ustave Republike Slovenije izdajam

Razglašam Zakon o ratifikaciji Sporazuma o medsebojni pravni pomoči med Evropsko unijo in Združenimi državami Amerike (BUSPPEU), ki ga je sprejel Državni zbor Republike Slovenije na seji 20. decembra 2005.

Ratificira se Sporazum o medsebojni pravni pomoči med Evropsko unijo in Združenimi državami Amerike, podpisan 25. junija 2003 v Washingtonu.

Besedilo sporazuma se v izvirniku v angleškem jeziku in v prevodu v slovenskem jeziku glasi:

Preamble
Article 1   Object and purpose
Article 2   Definitions
Article 3   Scope of application of this Agreement in relation to bilateral
            mutual legal assistance treaties with Member States and in the
            absence thereof
Article 4   Identification of bank information
Article 5   Joint investigative teams
Article 6   Video conferencing
Article 7   Expedited transmission of requests
Article 8   Mutual legal assistance to administrative authorities
Article 9   Limitations on use to protect personal and other data
Article 10  Requesting State's request for confidentiality
Article 11  Consultations
Article 12  Temporal application
Article 13  Non-derogation
Article 14  Future bilateral mutual legal assistance treaties with Member
            States
Article 15  Designations and notifications
Article 16  Territorial application
Article 17  Review
Article 18  Entry into force and termination
Explanatory Note

THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
DESIRING further to facilitate cooperation between the European Union Member States and the United States of America,
DESIRING to combat crime in a more effective way as a means of protecting their respective democratic societies and common values,
HAVING DUE REGARD for rights of individuals and the rule of law,
MINDFUL of the guarantees under their respective legal systems which provide an accused person with the right to a fair trial, including the right to adjudication by an impartial tribunal established pursuant to law,
DESIRING to conclude an Agreement relating to mutual legal assistance in criminal matters,
HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

The Contracting Parties undertake, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, to provide for enhancements to cooperation and mutual legal assistance.

1. ‘Contracting Parties’ shall mean the European Union and the United States of America.
2. ‘Member State’ shall mean a Member State of the European Union.

1. The European Union, pursuant to the Treaty on European Union, and the United States of America shall ensure that the provisions of this Agreement are applied in relation to bilateral mutual legal assistance treaties between the Member States and the United States of America, in force at the time of the entry into force of this Agreement, under the following terms:
(a) Article 4 shall be applied to provide for identification of financial accounts and transactions in addition to any authority already provided under bilateral treaty provisions;
(b) Article 5 shall be applied to authorise the formation and activities of joint investigative teams in addition to any authority already provided under bilateral treaty provisions;
(c) Article 6 shall be applied to authorise the taking of testimony of a person located in the requested State by use of video transmission technology between the requesting and requested States in addition to any authority already provided under bilateral treaty provisions;
(d) Article 7 shall be applied to provide for the use of expedited means of communication in addition to any authority already provided under bilateral treaty provisions;
(e) Article 8 shall be applied to authorise the providing of mutual legal assistance to the administrative authorities concerned, in addition to any authority already provided under bilateral treaty provisions;
(f) subject to Article 9(4) and (5), Article 9 shall be applied in place of, or in the absence of bilateral treaty provisions governing limitations on use of information or evidence provided to the requesting State, and governing the conditioning or refusal of assistance on data protection grounds;
(g) Article 10 shall be applied in the absence of bilateral treaty provisions pertaining to the circumstances under which a requesting State may seek the confidentiality of its request.
2. (a) The European Union, pursuant to the Treaty on European Union, shall ensure that each Member State acknowledges, in a written instrument between such Member State and the United States of America, the application, in the manner set forth in this Article, of its bilateral mutual legal assistance treaty in force with the United States of America.
(b) The European Union, pursuant to the Treaty on European Union, shall ensure that new Member States acceding to the European Union after the entry into force of this Agreement, and having bilateral mutual legal assistance treaties with the United States of America, take the measures referred to in subparagraph (a).
(c) The Contracting Parties shall endeavour to complete the process described in subparagraph (b) prior to the scheduled accession of a new Member State, or as soon as possible thereafter. The European Union shall notify the United States of America of the date of accession of new Member States.
3. (a) The European Union, pursuant to the Treaty on European Union, and the United States of America shall also ensure that the provisions of this Agreement are applied in the absence of a bilateral mutual legal assistance treaty in force between a Member State and the United States of America.
(b) The European Union, pursuant to the Treaty on European Union, shall ensure that such Member State acknowledges, in a written instrument between such Member State and the United States of America, the application of the provisions of this Agreement.
(c) The European Union, pursuant to the Treaty on European Union, shall ensure that new Member States acceding to the European Union after the entry into force of this Agreement, which do not have bilateral mutual legal assistance treaties with the United States of America, take the measures referred to in subparagraph (b).
4. If the process described in paragraph 2(b) and 3(c) is not completed by the date of accession, the provisions of this Agreement shall apply in the relations between the United States of America and that new Member State as from the date on which they have notified each other and the European Union of the completion of their internal procedures for that purpose.
5. The Contracting Parties agree that this Agreement is intended solely for mutual legal assistance between the States concerned. The provisions of this Agreement shall not give rise to a right on the part of any private person to obtain, suppress, or exclude any evidence, or to impede the execution of a request, nor expand or limit rights otherwise available under domestic law.

1. (a) Upon request of the requesting State, the requested State shall, in accordance with the terms of this Article, promptly ascertain if the banks located in its territory possess information on whether an identified natural or legal person suspected of or charged with a criminal offence is the holder of a bank account or accounts. The requested State shall promptly communicate the results of its enquiries to the requesting State.
(b) The actions described in subparagraph (a) may also be taken for the purpose of identifying:
   (i) information regarding natural or legal persons convicted of or otherwise involved in a criminal offence;
    (ii) information in the possession of non-bank financial institutions; or
    (iii) financial transactions unrelated to accounts.
2. A request for information described in paragraph 1 shall include:
(a) the identity of the natural or legal person relevant to locating such accounts or transactions; and
(b) sufficient information to enable the competent authority of the requested State to:
    (i) reasonably suspect that the natural or legal person concerned has engaged in a criminal offence and that banks or non-bank financial institutions in the territory of the requested State may have the information requested; and
    (ii) conclude that the information sought relates to the criminal investigation or proceeding;
(c) to the extent possible, information concerning which bank or non-bank financial institution may be involved, and other information the availability of which may aid in reducing the breadth of the enquiry.
3. Requests for assistance under this Article shall be transmitted between:
(a) central authorities responsible for mutual legal assistance in Member States, or national authorities of Member States responsible for investigation or prosecution of criminal offences as designated pursuant to Article 15(2); and
(b) national authorities of the United States responsible for investigation or prosecution of criminal offences, as designated pursuant to Article 15(2).
The Contracting Parties may, following the entry into force of this Agreement, agree by Exchange of Diplomatic Note to modify the channels through which requests under this Article are made.
4. (a) Subject to subparagraph (b), a State may, pursuant to Article 15, limit its obligation to provide assistance under this Article to:
    (i) offences punishable under the laws of both the requested and requesting States;
    (ii) offences punishable by a penalty involving deprivation of liberty or a detention order of a maximum period of at least four years in the requesting State and at least two years in the requested State; or
    (iii) designated serious offences punishable under the laws of both the requested and requesting States.
(b) A State which limits its obligation pursuant to subparagraph (a)(ii) or (iii) shall, at a minimum, enable identification of accounts associated with terrorist activity and the laundering of proceeds generated from a comprehensive range of serious criminal activities, punishable under the laws of both the requesting and requested States.
5. Assistance may not be refused under this Article on grounds of bank secrecy.
6. The requested State shall respond to a request for production of the records concerning the accounts or transactions identified pursuant to this Article, in accordance with the provisions of the applicable mutual legal assistance treaty in force between the States concerned, or in the absence thereof, in accordance with the requirements of its domestic law.
7. The Contracting Parties shall take measures to avoid the imposition of extraordinary burdens on requested States through application of this Article. Where extraordinary burdens on a requested State nonetheless result, including on banks or by operation of the channels of communications foreseen in this Article, the Contracting Parties shall immediately consult with a view to facilitating the application of this Article, including the taking of such measures as may be required to reduce pending and future burdens.

1. The Contracting Parties shall, to the extent they have not already done so, take such measures as may be necessary to enable joint investigative teams to be established and operated in the respective territories of each Member State and the United States of America for the purpose of facilitating criminal investigations or prosecutions involving one or more Member States and the United States of America where deemed appropriate by the Member State concerned and the United States of America.
2. The procedures under which the team is to operate, such as its composition, duration, location, organisation, functions, purpose, and terms of participation of team members of a State in investigative activities taking place in another State's territory shall be as agreed between the competent authorities responsible for the investigation or prosecution of criminal offences, as determined by the respective States concerned.
3. The competent authorities determined by the respective States concerned shall communicate directly for the purposes of the establishment and operation of such team except that where the exceptional complexity, broad scope, or other circumstances involved are deemed to require more central coordination as to some or all aspects, the States may agree upon other appropriate channels of communications to that end.
4. Where the joint investigative team needs investigative measures to be taken in one of the States setting up the team, a member of the team of that State may request its own competent authorities to take those measures without the other States having to submit a request for mutual legal assistance. The required legal standard for obtaining the measure in that State shall be the standard applicable to its domestic investigative activities.

1. The Contracting Parties shall take such measures as may be necessary to enable the use of video transmission technology between each Member State and the United States of America for taking testimony in a proceeding for which mutual legal assistance is available of a witness or expert located in a requested State, to the extent such assistance is not currently available. To the extent not specifically set forth in this Article, the modalities governing such procedure shall be as provided under the applicable mutual legal assistance treaty in force between the States concerned, or the law of the requested State, as applicable.
2. Unless otherwise agreed by the requesting and requested States, the requesting State shall bear the costs associated with establishing and servicing the video transmission. Other costs arising in the course of providing assistance (including costs associated with travel of participants in the requested State) shall be borne in accordance with the applicable provisions of the mutual legal assistance treaty in force between the States concerned, or where there is no such treaty, as agreed upon by the requesting and requested States.
3. The requesting and requested States may consult in order to facilitate resolution of legal, technical or logistical issues that may arise in the execution of the request.
4. Without prejudice to any jurisdiction under the law of the requesting State, making an intentionally false statement or other misconduct of the witness or expert during the course of the video conference shall be punishable in the requested State in the same manner as if it had been committed in the course of its domestic proceedings.
5. This Article is without prejudice to the use of other means for obtaining of testimony in the requested State available under applicable treaty or law.
6. This Article is without prejudice to application of provisions of bilateral mutual legal assistance agreements between Member States and the United States of America that require or permit the use of video conferencing technology for purposes other than those described in paragraph 1, including for purposes of identification of persons or objects, or taking of investigative statements. Where not already provided for under applicable treaty or law, a State may permit the use of video conferencing technology in such instances.

Requests for mutual legal assistance, and communications related thereto, may be made by expedited means of communications, including fax or e-mail, with formal confirmation to follow where required by the requested State. The requested State may respond to the request by any such expedited means of communication.

1. Mutual legal assistance shall also be afforded to a national administrative authority, investigating conduct with a view to a criminal prosecution of the conduct, or referral of the conduct to criminal investigation or prosecution authorities, pursuant to its specific administrative or regulatory authority to undertake such investigation. Mutual legal assistance may also be afforded to other administrative authorities under such circumstances. Assistance shall not be available for matters in which the administrative authority anticipates that no prosecution or referral, as applicable, will take place.
2. (a) Requests for assistance under this Article shall be transmitted between the central authorities designated pursuant to the bilateral mutual legal assistance treaty in force between the States concerned, or between such other authorities as may be agreed by the central authorities.
(b) In the absence of a treaty, requests shall be transmitted between the United States Department of Justice and the Ministry of Justice or, pursuant to Article 15(1), comparable Ministry of the Member State concerned responsible for transmission of mutual legal assistance requests, or between such other authorities as may be agreed by the Department of Justice and such Ministry.
3. The Contracting Parties shall take measures to avoid the imposition of extraordinary burdens on requested States through application of this Article. Where extraordinary burdens on a requested State nonetheless result, the Contracting Parties shall immediately consult with a view to facilitating the application of this Article, including the taking of such measures as may be required to reduce pending and future burdens.

1. The requesting State may use any evidence or information obtained from the requested State:
(a) for the purpose of its criminal investigations and proceedings;
(b) for preventing an immediate and serious threat to its public security;
(c) in its non-criminal judicial or administrative proceedings directly related to investigations or proceedings:
    (i) set forth in subparagraph (a); or
    (ii) for which mutual legal assistance was rendered under Article 8;
(d) for any other purpose, if the information or evidence has been made public within the framework of proceedings for which they were transmitted, or in any of the situations described in subparagraphs (a), (b) and (c); and
(e) for any other purpose, only with the prior consent of the requested State.
2. (a) This Article shall not prejudice the ability of the requested State to impose additional conditions in a particular case where the particular request for assistance could not be complied with in the absence of such conditions. Where additional conditions have been imposed in accordance with this subparagraph, the requested State may require the requesting State to give information on the use made of the evidence or information.
(b) Generic restrictions with respect to the legal standards of the requesting State for processing personal data may not be imposed by the requested State as a condition under subparagraph (a) to providing evidence or information.
3. Where, following disclosure to the requesting State, the requested State becomes aware of circumstances that may cause it to seek an additional condition in a particular case, the requested State may consult with the requesting State to determine the extent to which the evidence and information can be protected.
4. A requested State may apply the use limitation provision of the applicable bilateral mutual legal assistance treaty in lieu of this Article, where doing so will result in less restriction on the use of information and evidence than provided for in this Article.
5. Where a bilateral mutual legal assistance treaty in force between a Member State and the United States of America on the date of signature of this Agreement, permits limitation of the obligation to provide assistance with respect to certain tax offences, the Member State concerned may indicate, in its exchange of written instruments with the United States of America described in Article 3(2), that, with respect to such offences, it will continue to apply the use limitation provision of that treaty.

The requested State shall use its best efforts to keep confidential a request and its contents if such confidentiality is requested by the requesting State. If the request cannot be executed without breaching the requested confidentiality, the central authority of the requested State shall so inform the requesting State, which shall then determine whether the request should nevertheless be executed.

The Contracting Parties shall, as appropriate, consult to enable the most effective use to be made of this Agreement, including to facilitate the resolution of any dispute regarding the interpretation or application of this Agreement.

1. This Agreement shall apply to offences committed before as well as after it enters into force.
2. This Agreement shall apply to requests for mutual legal assistance made after its entry into force. Nevertheless, Articles 6 and 7 shall apply to requests pending in a requested State at the time this Agreement enters into force.

Subject to Article 4(5) and Article 9(2)(b), this Agreement is without prejudice to the invocation by the requested State of grounds for refusal of assistance available pursuant to a bilateral mutual legal assistance treaty, or, in the absence of a treaty, its applicable legal principles, including where execution of the request would prejudice its sovereignty, security, ordre public or other essential interests.

This Agreement shall not preclude the conclusion, after its entry into force, of bilateral Agreements between a Member State and the United States of America consistent with this Agreement.

1. Where a Ministry other than the Ministry of Justice has been designated under Article 8(2)(b), the European Union shall notify the United States of America of such designation prior to the exchange of written instruments described in Article 3(3) between the Member States and the United States of America.
2. The Contracting Parties, on the basis of consultations between them on which national authorities responsible for the investigation and prosecution of offences to designate pursuant to Article 4(3), shall notify each other of the national authorities so designated prior to the exchange of written instruments described in Article 3(2) and (3) between the Member States and the United States of America. The European Union shall, for Member States having no mutual legal assistance treaty with the United States of America, notify the United States of America prior to such exchange of the identity of the central authorities under Article 4(3).
3. The Contracting Parties shall notify each other of any limitations invoked under Article 4(4) prior to the exchange of written instruments described in Article 3(2) and (3) between the Member States and the United States of America.

1. This Agreement shall apply:
(a) to the United States of America;
(b) in relation to the European Union, to:
– Member States,
– territories for whose external relations a Member State has responsibility, or countries that are not Member States for whom a Member State has other duties with respect to external relations, where agreed upon by exchange of diplomatic note between the Contracting Parties, duly confirmed by the relevant Member State.
2. The application of this Agreement to any territory or country in respect of which extension has been made in accordance with subparagraph (b) of paragraph 1 may be terminated by either Contracting Party giving six months' written notice to the other Contracting Party through the diplomatic channel, where duly confirmed between the relevant Member State and the United States of America.

The Contracting Parties agree to carry out a common review of this Agreement no later than five years after its entry into force. The review shall address in particular the practical implementation of the Agreement and may also include issues such as the consequences of further development of the European Union relating to the subject matter of this Agreement.

1. This Agreement shall enter into force on the first day following the third month after the date on which the Contracting Parties have exchanged instruments indicating that they have completed their internal procedures for this purpose. These instruments shall also indicate that the steps specified in Article 3(2) and (3) have been completed.
2. Either Contracting Party may terminate this Agreement at any time by giving written notice to the other Party, and such termination shall be effective six months after the date of such notice.
In witness whereof the undersigned Plenipotentiaries have signed this Agreement
Done at Washington D.C. on the twenty-fifth day of June in the year two thousand and three in duplicate in the Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish languages, each text being equally authentic.

This note reflects understandings regarding the application of certain provisions of the Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance between the European Union and the United States of America (hereinafter ‘the Agreement’) agreed between the Contracting Parties.
 
On Article 8
With respect to the mutual legal assistance to administrative authorities under Article 8(1), the first sentence of Article 8(1) imposes an obligation to afford mutual legal assistance to requesting United States of America federal administrative authorities and to requesting national administrative authorities of Member States. Under the second sentence of that paragraph mutual legal assistance may also be made available to other, that is non-federal or local, administrative authorities. This provision however, is available at the discretion of the requested State.
The Contracting Parties agree that under the first sentence of Article 8(1) mutual legal assistance will be made available to a requesting administrative authority that is, at the time of making the request, conducting investigations or proceedings in contemplation of criminal prosecution or referral of the investigated conduct to the competent prosecuting authorities, within the terms of its statutory mandate, as further described immediately below. The fact that, at the time of making the request referral for criminal prosecution is being contemplated does not exclude that, other sanctions than criminal ones may be pursued by that authority. Thus, mutual legal assistance obtained under Article 8(1) may lead the requesting administrative authority to the conclusion that pursuance of criminal proceedings or criminal referral would not be appropriate. These possible consequences do not affect the obligation upon the Contracting Parties to provide assistance under this Article.
However, the requesting administrative authority may not use Article 8(1) to request assistance where criminal prosecution or referral is not being contemplated, or for matters in which the conduct under investigation is not subject to criminal sanction or referral under the laws of the requesting State.
The European Union recalls that the subject matter of the Agreement for its part falls under the provisions on police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters set out in Title VI of the Treaty on European Union and that the Agreement has been concluded within the scope of these provisions.
 
On Article 9
Article 9(2)(b) is meant to ensure that refusal of assistance on data protection grounds may be invoked only in exceptional cases. Such a situation could arise if, upon balancing the important interests involved in the particular case (on the one hand, public interests, including the sound administration of justice and, on the other hand, privacy interests), furnishing the specific data sought by the requesting State would raise difficulties so fundamental as to be considered by the requested State to fall within the essential interests grounds for refusal. A broad, categorical, or systematic application of data protection principles by the requested State to refuse cooperation is therefore precluded. Thus, the fact the requesting and requested States have different systems of protecting the privacy of data (such as that the requesting State does not have the equivalent of a specialised data protection authority) or have different means of protecting personal data (such as that the requesting State uses means other than the process of deletion to protect the privacy or the accuracy of the personal data received by law enforcement authorities), may as such not be imposed as additional conditions under Article 9(2a).
 
On Article 14
Article 14 provides that the Agreement shall not preclude the conclusion, after its entry into force, of bilateral agreements on mutual legal assistance between a Member State and the United States of America consistent with the Agreement.
Should any measures set forth in the Agreement create an operational difficulty for the United States of America and one or more Member States, such difficulty should in the first place be resolved, if possible, through consultations between the Member State or Member States concerned and the United States of America, or, if appropriate, through the consultation procedures set out in the Agreement. Where it is not possible to address such operational difficulty through consultations alone, it would be consistent with the Agreement for future bilateral agreements between a Member State and the United States of America to provide an operationally feasible alternative mechanism that would satisfy the objectives of the specific provision with respect to which the difficulty has arisen.

Preambula
Člen 1  Predmet in namen
Člen 2  Opredelitev pojmov
Člen 3  Obseg uporabe tega sporazuma glede na dvostranske pogodbe o
        medsebojni pravni pomoči z državami članicami in če takih pogodb ni
Člen 4  Identifikacija bančnih podatkov
Člen 5  Skupne preiskovalne skupine
Člen 6  Video konference
Člen 7  Hitro pošiljanje zaprosil
Člen 8  Medsebojna pravna pomoč upravnim organom
 
Člen 9  Omejitve uporabe zaradi varstva osebnih in drugih podatkov
Člen 10 Zahteva države prosilke po zaupnosti
Člen 11 Posvetovanja
Člen 12 Časovna uporaba
Člen 13 Neodstopanja
Člen 14 Prihodnje dvostranske pogodbe o medsebojni pravni pomoči z državami
        članicami
Člen 15 Določitve in priglasitve
Člen 16 Ozemlje uporabe
Člen 17 Pregled
Člen 18 Začetek in konec veljavnosti
Spremno pojasnilo

EVROPSKA UNIJA IN ZDRUŽENE DRŽAVE AMERIKE SO SE –
V ŽELJI po nadaljnjem olajšanju sodelovanja med državami članicami Evropske unije in Združenimi državami Amerike,
V ŽELJI po bolj učinkovitem načinu boja proti kriminalu za varovanje svoje demokratične družbe in skupnih vrednot,
OB PRIMERNEM SPOŠTOVANJU pravic posameznikov in pravne države,
ZAVEDAJOČ SE, da njuna pravna sistema zagotavljata pravico do poštenega sojenja izročeni osebi, vključno s pravico do sojenja pred nepristranskim sodiščem, ustanovljenim v skladu z zakonom,
Z ŽELJO skleniti sporazum o izročanju storilcev kaznivih dejanj –
DOGOVORILE O NASLEDNJEM:

Pogodbenici se v skladu z določbami tega sporazuma zavezujeta, da bosta okrepili sodelovanje in medsebojno pravno pomoč.

1. „Pogodbenici“ sta Evropska unija in Združene države Amerike.
2. „Država članica“ je država članica Evropske unije.

1. Evropska unija na podlagi Pogodbe o Evropski uniji in Združene države Amerike zagotovita, da se določbe tega sporazuma uporabljajo pod naslednjimi pogoji glede na dvostranske pogodbe o medsebojni pravni pomoči med državami članicami in Združenimi državami Amerike, ki veljajo ob začetku veljavnosti tega sporazuma:
(a) člen 4 se uporablja za zagotavljanje identifikacije finančnih računov in transakcij poleg drugih organov, ki so že določeni z določbami dvostranskih pogodb;
(b) s členom 5 se omogoči oblikovanje in delovanje skupnih preiskovalnih skupin poleg drugih organov, ki so že določeni z določbami dvostranskih pogodb;
(c) s členom 6 se omogoči zaslišanje oseb, ki so v zaprošeni državi, z uporabo tehnologije video prenosa med državo prosilko in zaprošeno državo poleg drugih organov, ki so že določeni z določbami dvostranskih pogodb;
(d) s členom 7 se zagotavlja uporabo sredstev za hitrejše komuniciranje poleg drugih organov, ki so že določeni z določbami dvostranskih pogodb;
(e) s členom 8 se omogoča izvajanje medsebojne pravne pomoči upravnim organom poleg drugih organov, ki so že določeni z določbami dvostranskih pogodb;
(f) ob upoštevanju člena 9(4) in (5), se člen 9 uporablja namesto določb dvostranskih pogodb, ki urejajo omejitve uporabe podatkov ali dokazov, ki se jih pošlje državi prosilki, in pogoje za zavrnitev pomoči zaradi varstva podatkov, ali če takih določb ni;
(g) člen 10 se uporablja, če ni določb dvostranske pogodbe, ki bi urejale okoliščine, v katerih lahko država prosilka zahteva zaupnost svojega zaprosila.
2. (a) Evropska unija na podlagi Pogodbe o Evropski uniji zagotovi, da vsaka država članica s pisnim instrumentom med tako državo članico in Združenimi državami Amerike potrdi uporabo svoje veljavne dvostranske pogodbe o medsebojni pravni pomoči z Združenimi državami Amerike na način, določen v tem členu.
(b) Evropska unija na podlagi Pogodbe o Evropski uniji zagotovi, da nove države članice, ki pristopijo k Evropski uniji po začetku veljavnosti tega sporazuma in imajo dvostranske pogodbe o medsebojni pravni pomoči z Združenimi državami Amerike, sprejmejo ukrepe iz pododstavka (a).
(c) Pogodbenici si prizadevata zaključiti postopek, opisan v pododstavku (b), pred načrtovanim pristopom nove države članice ali čim prej po njem. Evropska unija uradno obvesti Združene države Amerike o dnevu pristopa novih držav članic.
3. (a) Evropska unija na podlagi Pogodbe o Evropski uniji in Združene države Amerike zagotovita, da se v primeru, če ni dvostranske pogodbe o medsebojni pravni pomoči med državo članico in Združenimi državami Amerike, uporabljajo določbe tega sporazuma.
(b) Evropska unija na podlagi Pogodbe o Evropski uniji zagotovi, da taka država članica s pisnim instrumentom med to državo članico in Združenimi državami Amerike potrdi uporabo določb tega sporazuma.
(c) Evropska unija na podlagi Pogodbe o Evropski uniji zagotovi, da nove države članice, ki pristopijo k Evropski uniji po začetku veljavnosti tega sporazuma in nimajo dvostranske pogodbe o medsebojni pravni pomoči z Združenimi državami Amerike, sprejmejo ukrepe iz podstavka (b).
4. Če se postopek iz odstavka 2(b) in 3(c) ne zaključi do dne pristopa, se določbe tega sporazuma uporabljajo v odnosih med novo državo članico in Združenimi državami Amerike od dne, ko sta se medsebojno uradno obvestili in ko sta obvestili Evropsko unijo o zaključku notranjih postopkov v ta namen.
5. Pogodbenici se strinjata, da je ta sporazum namenjen samo medsebojni pravni pomoči med državami. Določbe tega sporazuma posamezniku ne dajejo pravice, da bi pridobil, utajil ali izločil kakršne koli dokaze ali bi preprečil izvršitev zaprosila, niti ne razširjajo ali omejujejo pravic, ki so sicer na voljo na podlagi notranjega prava.

1. (a) Zaprošena država na zaprosilo države prosilke v skladu z določbami tega člena nemudoma preveri, ali ima banka, ki se nahaja na njenem ozemlju, podatke, ali je identificirana fizična ali pravna oseba, osumljena ali obdolžena kaznivega dejanja, imetnik bančnega računa ali bančnih računov. Zaprošena država takoj sporoči izsledke poizvedb državi prosilki.
(b) Ukrepi, opisani v pododstavku (a), se lahko uporabljajo tudi za ugotavljanje:
(i) podatkov o fizičnih ali pravnih osebah, obsojenih ali drugače vpletenih v kaznivo dejanje;
(ii) podatkov, ki jih imajo finančne ustanove, ki niso banke; ali
(iii) finančnih transakcij, ki niso povezane z ­računi.
2. Zaprosilo za podatke iz odstavka 1 vsebuje:
(a) podatke za ugotovitev istovetnosti fizične ali pravne osebe, ki so potrebni, da se najdejo takšni računi ali transakcije; in
(b) dovolj podatkov, da pristojnemu organu v zaprošeni državi omogočijo:
(i) utemeljen sum, da je fizična ali pravna oseba storila kaznivo dejanje in da imajo banke in druge finančne ustanove na ozemlju zaprošene države zahtevane podatke; in
(ii) sklep, da se zahtevani podatki nanašajo na preiskavo kaznivega dejanja ali sodni postopek;
(c) kolikor je mogoče, podatke o tem, katera banka ali druga finančna ustanova bi lahko bila vpletena in druge podatke, ki bi, če bi bili na razpolago, lahko pomagali pri zožitvi preiskave.
3. Zaprosila za pomoč na podlagi tega člena se pošiljajo med:
(a) centralnimi organi, pristojnimi za medsebojno pravno pomoč v državah članicah, ali državnimi organi držav članic, ki so pristojni za preiskave in pregon kaznivih dejanj, določenimi v skladu s členom 15(2); in
(b) državnimi organi Združenih držav, pristojnimi za preiskave ali pregon kaznivih dejanj, določenimi v skladu s členom 15(2).
Pogodbenici se lahko po začetku veljavnosti tega sporazuma z izmenjavo diplomatskih not dogovorita za spremembo poti, preko katerih se pošiljajo zaprosila iz tega člena.
4. (a) Ob upoštevanju pododstavka (b) lahko država v skladu s členom 15 omeji svojo dolžnost zagotavljanja pomoči na podlagi tega člena na:
(i) kazniva dejanja, ki se kaznujejo po pravu zaprošene države in države prosilke;
(ii) kazniva dejanja, za katera je najvišja predpisana kazen odvzema prostosti ali varnostni ukrep odvzema prostosti v trajanju najmanj štiri leta v državi prosilki in najmanj dve leti v zaprošeni državi članici, ali
(iii) določena huda kazniva dejanja, ki se kaznujejo po pravu zaprošene države in države prosilke.
(b) Država, ki omeji svojo obveznost na podlagi pododstavka (a)(ii) ali (iii), omogoči vsaj identifikacijo računov, povezanih s terorističnimi dejavnostmi in pranjem denarja iz premoženjske koristi, pridobljene iz večjega obsega hude kaznive dejavnosti, ki se kaznuje po pravu države prosilke in zaprošene države.
5. Pomoč se ne sme zavrniti na podlagi tega člena zaradi bančne tajnosti.
6. Zaprošena država odgovori na zaprosilo za izpiske o računih ali transakcijah, navedenih v skladu s tem členom, v skladu z določbami veljavne pogodbe o medsebojni pravni pomoči med državami, oziroma, če take pogodbe ni, v skladu z zahtevami notranjega prava.
7. Pogodbenici sprejmeta ukrepe, da prepreči izredna obremenitev zaprošene države zaradi uporabe tega člena. Če ta vseeno nastane za zaprošeno državo, vključno z bankami ali z delovanjem komunikacijskih poti, ki jih predvideva ta člen, se pogodbenici nemudoma posvetujeta, da bi olajšali uporabo tega člena, ter sprejmeta ukrepe, kakršni bi lahko bili potrebni, da se zmanjšajo trenutne ali prihodnje obremenitve.

1. Če tega še nista storili in če menita, da je to potrebno, pogodbenici sprejmeta ukrepe, potrebne za to, da se omogoči ustanavljanje in delovanje skupnih preiskovalnih skupin na ozemlju države članice in Združenih držav Amerike, da bi olajšale preiskave kaznivih dejanj ali njihov pregon, ki vključuje eno ali več držav članic in Združene države Amerike.
2. Države imenujejo pristojne organe, odgovorne za preiskave ali pregon kaznivih dejanj, ki se dogovorijo o postopkih, na podlagi katerih bodo delovale skupine, kakor so sestava, trajanje, kraj, organizacija, funkcije, namen in pogoji sodelovanja članov skupine ene države v preiskovalnih dejavnostih, ki potekajo na ozemlju druge.
3. Pristojni organi, ki jih določijo države, neposredno komunicirajo z namenom ustanovitve ali delovanja takih skupin, razen če se šteje, da izjemna zapletenost, širok obseg ali druge okoliščine zahtevajo v nekaterih ali vseh delih bolj centralizirano usklajevanje, in se lahko države dogovorijo za druge primerne načine komunikacije v navedeni namen.
4. Kadar skupna preiskovalna skupina potrebuje uvedbo preiskovalnih ukrepov v eni od držav, ki sestavljajo skupino, lahko član skupine iz tiste države zaprosi svoje pristojne organe, da sprejmejo navedene ukrepe, ne da bi za to morale druge države poslati zaprosilo za medsebojno pravno pomoč. Potrebni pravni standard za uvedbo ukrepov v navedeni državi je standard, ki se uporablja v domačih preiskovalnih dejavnostih.

1. Pogodbenice, kolikor to še ni mogoče, sprejmejo potrebne ukrepe, da omogočijo uporabo tehnologije za video prenos med državo članico in Združenimi državami Amerike za zaslišanje priče ali izvedenca v zaprošeni državi za postopek, za katerega je na voljo medsebojna pravna pomoč. Če ni natančno določeno v tem členu, je način izvedbe takega postopka tak, kot ga predvideva veljavna pogodba o medsebojni pravni pomoči med državami oziroma pravo zaprošene države.
2. Če se država prosilka in zaprošena država ne dogovorita drugače, država prosilka krije stroške, povezane z vzpostavitvijo in vzdrževanjem video prenosa. Drugi stroški, ki nastanejo med izvajanjem pomoči (vključno s stroški, povezanimi s potovanjem sodelujočih v zaprošeno državo), se krijejo v skladu z veljavnimi določbami pogodbe o medsebojni pravni pomoči, ki velja med državami, ali če take pogodbe ni, kakor se država prosilka in zaprošena država dogovorita.
3. Država prosilka in zaprošena država se lahko posvetujeta, da bi olajšali reševanje pravnih, tehničnih ali logističnih vprašanj, ki se lahko pojavijo pri izvrševanju zaprosila.
4. Brez poseganja v zakonodajne pristojnosti države prosilke, se namerna lažna izjava ali drugo neprimerno vedenje priče ali izvedenca med videokonferenco kaznuje v zaprošeni državi enako, kakor bi bilo storjeno med domačim sodnim postopkom.
5. Ta člen ne posega v uporabo drugih sredstev za pridobivanje izjav v zaprošeni državi, ki so na voljo na podlagi veljavne pogodbe ali zakonodaje.
6. Ta člen ne posega v uporabo določb dvostranskih sporazumov o medsebojni pravni pomoči med državami članicami in Združenimi državami Amerike, ki zahtevajo ali dovoljujejo uporabo tehnologije za video-konferenco poleg namenov opisanih v odstavku 1 tudi zaradi prepoznave oseb ali predmetov ali jemanje izjav v preiskavi. Če ni že predvideno v veljavni pogodbi ali zakonu, lahko država v takih primerih dovoli uporabo tehnologije za videokonferenco.

Zaprosila za medsebojno pravno pomoč in z njimi povezana obvestila se lahko pošiljajo s hitrimi sredstvi komunikacije, vključno s faksom ali elektronsko pošto, ki jim, če tako zahteva zaprošena država, sledi uradno potrdilo. Zaprošena država lahko odgovori na zaprosilo s takim hitrim sredstvom komunikacije.

1. Medsebojna pravna pomoč se zagotovi tudi državnemu upravnemu organu, ki preiskuje ravnanje zaradi kazenskega pregona takega ravnanja, ali zaradi nadaljnjega odstopa organom za preiskavo ali kazenski pregon, na podlagi posebnih upravnih ali normativnih pooblastil za začetek takšne preiskave. Medsebojna pravna pomoč se lahko zagotovi tudi drugim upravnim organom v takih okoliščinah. Pomoč se ne nudi v zadevah, za katere upravni organ ne pričakuje nadaljnjega pregona ali, v določenih primerih, odstopa pristojnim organom.
2. (a) Zaprosila za pomoč na podlagi tega člena se pošiljajo med centralnimi organi, imenovanimi na podlagi pogodbe o medsebojni pravni pomoči, ki velja med državami, ali med tistimi organi, za katere se lahko dogovorijo centralni organi.
(b) Če ni pogodbe, se zaprosila pošiljajo med ministrstvom za pravosodje Združenih držav Amerike in ministrstvom za pravosodje, ali v skladu s členom 15(1), podobnim ministrstvom države članice, ki je pristojno za pošiljanje zaprosil za medsebojno pravno pomoč ali med takimi drugimi organi, kakor se dogovorita ministrstvo za pravosodje Združenih držav in to ministrstvo.
3. Pogodbenici sprejmeta ukrepe, da se prepreči izredna obremenitev zaprošene države zaradi uporabe tega člena. Če ta vseeno nastane, se pogodbenici nemudoma posvetujeta, da bi olajšali uporabo tega člena, ter sprejmeta ukrepe, kakršni bi lahko bili potrebni, za zmanjšanje trenutne ali prihodnje obremenitve.

1. Država prosilka lahko uporabi katere koli dokaze ali podatke, ki jih pridobi od zaprošene države:
(a) za preiskavo kaznivih dejanj in sodne postopke;
(b) za preprečevanje neposrednega in resnega ogrožanja javne varnosti;
(c) v nekazenskih sodnih ali upravnih postopkih, ki se neposredno navezujejo na preiskave kaznivih dejanj ali postopke:
(i) iz pododstavka (a); ali
(ii) za katere je bila na podlagi člena 8 nudeča medsebojna pravna pomoč;
(d) za kateri koli drug namen, če so postali podatki ali dokazi med postopkom, zaradi katerega so bili poslani, javni, ali v okoliščinah iz pododstavkov (a), (b) in (c); in
(e) za kateri koli drug namen, vendar s predhodnim dovoljenjem zaprošene države.
2. (a) Ta člen ne posega v možnost zaprošene države, da določi dodatne pogoje v posameznem primeru, če zaprosilu za pomoč ne bi mogla ugoditi brez teh pogojev. Če se določijo dodatni pogoji v skladu s tem pododstavkom, lahko zaprošena država državi prosilki predlaga, naj ji pošlje podatke o tem, kako uporablja dokaze ali podatke.
(b) Zaprošena država ne more določiti splošnih omejitev glede pravnih standardov države prosilke za obdelavo osebnih podatkov kot pogoj iz pododstavka (a) za pošiljanje dokazov ali podatkov.
3. Če potem, ko je že razkrila dokaze ali podatke državi prosilki, zaprošena država ugotovi okoliščine, zaradi katerih bi morala v določenem primeru zahtevati dodaten pogoj, se lahko zaprošena država posvetuje z državo prosilko, da bi določila obseg, v katerem je mogoče dokaze ali podatke zaščititi.
4. Zaprošena država lahko namesto tega člena uporabi določbo o omejitvi uporabe iz veljavne pogodbe o medsebojni pravni pomoči, če bi to povzročilo manjše omejitve uporabe podatkov in dokazov, kakor so določene v tem členu.
5. Če veljavna pogodba o medsebojni pravni pomoči med državo članico in Združenimi državami Amerike na datum podpisa tega sporazuma dovoljuje omejitve zagotavljanja pravne pomoči za nekatera kazniva dejanja v zvezi z davki, lahko zadevna država članica v izmenjavi pisnih instrumentov z Združenimi državami Amerike iz člena 3(2) navede, da bo za taka kazniva dejanja še naprej uporabljala določbe o omejevanju in navedene pogodbe.

Zaprošena država po najboljših močeh varuje zaupnost zaprosila in njegove vsebine, če to zahteva država prosilka. Če zaprosilu ni mogoče ugoditi, ne da bi se kršila zahtevana zaupnost, centralni organ zaprošene države o tem obvesti državo prosilko, ki nato odloči, ali naj se zaprosilu vseeno ugodi.

Pogodbenici se, če je primerno, posvetujeta, da omogočita najbolj učinkovit način uporabe tega sporazuma, vključno za olajšanje reševanja sporov v zvezi z razlago ali uporabo tega sporazuma.

1. Ta sporazum velja za kazniva dejanja, storjena pred in po začetku veljavnosti.
2. Ta sporazum velja za zaprosila za medsebojno pravno pomoč, poslana po začetku njegove veljavnosti. Člena 6 in 7 veljata za zaprosila, ki v zaprošeni državi ob začetku veljavnosti tega sporazuma čakajo na rešitev.

Ob upoštevanju člena 4(5) in člena 9(2)(b) ta sporazum ne posega v sklicevanje zaprošene države na razloge za zavrnitev pomoči, ki so mogoči na podlagi dvostranske pogodbe o medsebojni pravni pomoči, ali, če take pogodbe ni, njenih veljavnih pravnih načel, vključno s primeri, v katerih bi ugoditev zaprosilu posegla v njeno suverenost, varnost, javni red ali druge bistvene interese.

Ta sporazum po svojem začetku veljavnosti ne preprečuje sklepanja dvostranskih sporazumov med državo članico in Združenimi državami Amerike, ki so v skladu s tem sporazumom.

1. Če je na podlagi člena 8(2)(b) določeno drugo ministrstvo kot ministrstvo za pravosodje, Evropska unija uradno obvesti Združene države Amerike o taki določitvi pred izmenjavo pisnih instrumentov, opisanih v členu 3(3), med državami članicami in Združenimi državami Amerike.
2. Pogodbenici se na podlagi medsebojnih posvetovanj o tem, kateri državi organi naj bodo pristojni za preiskave in sodni pregon kaznivih dejanj v skladu s členom 4(3), medsebojno obvestita, katere državne organe sta imenovali, pred izmenjavo pisnih instrumentov iz člena 3(2) in (3) med državami članicami in Združenimi državami Amerike. Evropska unija pred tako izmenjavo za države članice, ki nimajo pogodbe o medsebojni pravni pomoči z Združenimi državami Amerike, obvesti Združene države Amerike o identiteti centralnih organov iz člena 4(3).
3. Pogodbenici se medsebojno uradno obvestita o morebitnih omejitvah na podlagi člena 4(4) pred izmenjavo pisnih instrumentov iz člena 3(2) in (3) med državami članicami in Združenimi državami Amerike.

1. Ta sporazum velja:
(a) za Združene države Amerike;
(b) v Evropski Uniji za:
– države članice,
– ozemlja za katerih zunanje odnose so pristojne države članice, ali države, ki niso države članice, za katere ima država članica druge dolžnosti v zvezi z njihovimi zunanjimi odnosi, če je tako dogovorjeno z izmenjavo diplomatskih not med pogodbenicami, ki jih potrdijo ustrezne države članice.
2. Ena ali druga pogodbenica lahko preneha uporabljati ta sporazum na katerem koli ozemlju ali v državi, pri kateri je bila razširitev določena v skladu s pododstavkom (b) odstavka 1, tako, da šest mesecev prej preko diplomatskih poti pošlje pisno uradno obvestilo drugi, s pravilnim potrdilom ustrezne države članice in Združenih držav Amerike.

Pogodbenici se strinjata, da bosta skupaj pregledali ta sporazum najkasneje pet let po začetku njegove veljavnosti. Pregledali bosta zlasti njegovo praktično uporabo, lahko pa tudi vprašanja, kakršna so posledice nadaljnjega razvoja Evropske unije v zvezi s predmetom tega sporazuma.

1. Ta sporazum začne veljati prvi dan po tretjem mesecu, ki sledi dnevu, na katerega sta si pogodbenici izmenjali instrumente, s katerimi sta potrdili, da so končani notranji postopki v ta namen. Takšni instrumenti navajajo tudi, da so bili zaključeni postopki iz člena 3(2) in (3).
2. Katera koli pogodbenica lahko kadar koli odpove ta sporazum s pisnim uradnim obvestilom drugi, takšna odpoved začne veljati šest mesecev po dnevu takšnega obvestila.
V potrditev navedenega so spodaj podpisani pooblaščenci podpisali ta sporazum.
V Washingtonu, petindvajsetega junija dva tisoč tri, sestavljeno v dveh izvodih v danskem, nizozemskem, angleškem, finskem, francoskem, nemškem, grškem, italijanskem, portugalskem, španskem in švedskem jeziku, pri čemer so vsa besedila verodostojna pod enakimi pogoji.

To pojasnilo odraža sporazum glede uporabe nekaterih določb sporazuma o medsebojni pravni pomoči med Evropsko unijo in Združenimi državami Amerike (v nadaljnjem besedilu „sporazum“), ki sta ga sklenili pogodbenici.
 
O členu 8
Za medsebojno pravno pomoč upravnim organom na podlagi člena 8(1) prvi stavek člena 8(1) določa obveznost zagotavljanja medsebojne pravne pomoči upravnim organom prosilcem Združenih držav Amerike in državnim upravnim organom prosilcem držav članic. Na podlagi drugega stavka navedenega odstavka se medsebojna pravna pomoč lahko zagotovi tudi drugim upravnim organom, torej nezveznim ali lokalnim. Ta določba se uporablja po prosti presoji zaprošene države.
Pogodbenici se strinjata, da se na podlagi prvega stavka člena 8(1) medsebojna pravna pomoč zagotavlja upravnemu organu prosilcu, ki ob izdaji zaprosila vodi preiskavo ali postopke zaradi kazenskega pregona ali zaradi posredovanja ravnanja, ki ga preiskuje, pristojnim organom pregona, v mejah svojih pooblastil, kot je opisano v nadaljevanju. Dejstvo, da se v času, ko je poslano zaprosilo, postavlja vprašanje glede morebitnega posredovanja v kazenski pregon, ne izključuje dejstva, da lahko navedeni organ zahteva tudi drugačne sankcije kakor kazenske. Tako lahko medsebojna pravna pomoč, pridobljena na podlagi člena 8(1) povzroči, da upravni organ prosilec sklene, da kazenski postopek ali odstop v kazenski pregon ne bi bila primerna. Takšne morebitne posledice ne vplivajo na obveznost pogodbenic, da zagotavljajo pomoč na podlagi tega člena.
Vendar pa upravni organ prosilec ne sme uporabiti člena 8(1) zato, da prosi za pomoč, če ne namerava začeti kazenskega pregona ali ravnanja odstopiti organom pregona, ali za zadeve, v katerih se ravnanje, ki ga preiskuje, ne kaznuje ali odstopi pregon po zakonodaji države prosilke.
Evropska unija ponavlja, da področje urejanja sporazuma na njeni strani sodi med določbe o policijskem in sodnem sodelovanju v kazenskih zadevah iz naslova VI Pogodbe o Evropski uniji in da je bil sporazum sklenjen v okviru teh določb.
 
O členu 9
Člen 9(2)(b) naj bi zagotavljal, da se lahko pomoč zaradi varstva podatkov zavrne le v izjemnih primerih. Takšne okoliščine bi lahko nastopile, če bi ob uravnoteževanju pomembnih interesov v določenem primeru (na eni strani javni interesi, vključno z učinkovitim sodnim varstvom, na drugi strani pa interesi v zvezi z zasebnostjo), posredovanje določenih podatkov, za katere prosi država prosilka, povzročilo tako temeljne težave, da bi zaprošena država lahko menila, da sodijo v okvir bistvenih interesov, ki so lahko razlog za zavrnitev. Široka, kategorična ali sistematična uporaba načel varstva podatkov v zaprošeni državi zato, da zavrne sodelovanje, je torej izključena. Tako se dejstvo, da imata država prosilka in zaprošena država različne sisteme varstva zaupnosti podatkov (kot na primer če država prosilka nima enakovrednega specializiranega organa za varstvo podatkov) ali različne načine za varovanje osebnih podatkov (kot na primer če država prosilka uporablja drugačna sredstva kakor je brisanje za varovanje zaupnosti ali natančnosti osebnih podatkov, prejetih od organov pregona), ne sme kot tako določiti kot dodaten pogoj na podlagi člena 9(2a).
 
O členu 14
Člen 14 določa, da ta sporazum po začetku veljavnosti ne preprečuje sklepanja dvostranskih sporazumov o medsebojni pravni pomoči med državo članico in Združenimi državami Amerike, ki so v skladu s tem sporazumom.
Če bi kateri koli ukrep iz tega sporazuma povzročil operativne težave za Združene države Amerike ali za eno ali več držav članic, bi bilo treba takšno težavo najprej odpraviti, po možnosti s posvetovanji med zadevno državo članico ali zadevnimi državami članicami in Združenimi državami Amerike, ali če je to primerno, s posvetovalnimi postopki iz tega sporazuma. Če take operativne težave ni mogoče rešiti samo s posvetovanji, bi bilo s tem sporazumom skladno predvideti izvedljiv alternativni mehanizem za prihodnje dvostranske sporazume med državo članico in Združenimi državami Amerike, ki bi izpolnil namene tistih določb, v zvezi s katerimi so nastopile težave.

Za izvajanje sporazuma skrbi Ministrstvo za pravosodje.

Ta zakon začne veljati petnajsti dan po objavi v Uradnem listu Republike Slovenije – Mednarodne pogodbe.