Article 16 — Processing the request for assistance

1.The AI Office shall assess whether issuing a request for documentation or information to a provider of a general-purpose AI model is necessary and proportionate for the fulfilment of the tasks of the scientific panel, taking into account the need to protect trade secrets and confidential business information.

2.Where the AI Office, following the assessment referred to in paragraph 1, concludes that a request for assistance is necessary and proportionate, it may prepare a decision for the Commission to issue a request for documentation or information to a provider of a general-purpose AI model pursuant to Article 91 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 and grant the scientific panel access to the received documentation or information.

3.Where the AI Office ascertains that the requested assistance is not necessary and proportionate, it shall notify the scientific panel, stating the reasons for refusal.

4.The AI Office shall regularly report to the Board about the requests received and the decisions taken in relation to those requests.

5.The AI Office shall process the request within two weeks from the receipt of the complete request. At any time before taking its decision, the AI Office may require the requesting member of the scientific panel to provide additional information to substantiate the request. In this case the request shall not be considered complete until the additional information has been provided.