1. The Authority may, upon a request from the European Parliament, the Council or the Commission, or on its own initiative, provide opinions to the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on all issues related to its area of competence.
2. With regard to prudential assessments of mergers and acquisitions falling within the scope of Directive 2004/39/EC, as amended by Directive 2007/44/EC, and which according to that Directive require consultation between competent authorities from two or more Member States, the Authority may, on application of one of the competent authorities concerned, issue and publish an opinion on a prudential assessment, except in relation to the criteria in Article 10b(e) of Directive 2004/39/EC. The opinion shall be issued promptly and in any event before the end of the assessment period in accordance with Directive 2004/39/EC, as amended by Directive 2007/44/EC. Article 35 shall apply to the areas in respect of which the Authority may issue an opinion.