(4)It is important to ensure that competent authorities engage efficiently in requests for cooperation on an on-site inspection or an investigation, including on the appropriateness to carry out a joint on-site inspection or investigation. It is therefore necessary to lay down common and uniform procedures to facilitate the communication between, consultations of, and interactions between the requesting competent authority and the requested competent authority, as well as to ensure the effective protection of the rights of the persons who are subject to on-site inspection or investigation.