(16)This Decision aims to facilitate effective cooperation between the competent authorities of the Member States and those of the United States. Its purpose is to allow those authorities to exercise their functions of public oversight, external quality assurance and investigations and, at the same time, to protect the rights of the parties concerned. Member States are under the obligation to communicate to the Commission the reciprocal working arrangements concluded with the competent authorities of the United States to allow the Commission to assess whether cooperation is in accordance with Article 47 of Directive 2006/43/EC.