1. If so requested, the Commission shall grant access to the file to the parties to whom it has addressed a statement of objections, for the purpose of enabling them to exercise their rights of defence. Access shall be granted after the Commission gives notice of the statement of objections to the notifying parties.
2. The Commission shall, upon request, also give the other involved parties who have been informed of the objections access to the file in so far as this is necessary for the purposes of preparing their comments.
3. The right of access to the file shall not extend to:
confidential information;
internal documents of the Commission;
internal documents of competent authorities of Member States;
correspondence between the Commission and the competent authorities of Member States;
correspondence between the competent authorities of Member States; and
correspondence between the Commission and other competition authorities.
4. Documents obtained through access to the file pursuant to this Article may only be used for the purposes of the relevant proceedings pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 139/2004.