12.— (1) Personal data retrieved from any of Europol’s data processing files or provided to the national unit by any other appropriate means shall be provided or used by the designated competent authorities in order to prevent and combat criminal offences or other serious forms of crime.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), any restrictions on the use of data imposed by Europol, a communicating Member State, a communicating third state or a communicating third body shall be complied with by the designated competent authorities.

(3) Where a court in the State, a legislative body or another body established by statute proposes, when supervising a designated competent authority to waive in accordance with law a restriction placed on information received from a communicating Member State, a communicating third state or a communicating third body, the relevant designated competent authority shall—

(a) consult the communicating state or body concerned as respects the interests and views of that state or body in the matter, and

(b) take all reasonable steps to convey those interests and views to the court, legislative body or supervising authority concerned.

(4) The designated competent authorities may request a communicating Member State, a communicating third state or a communicating third body to waive any restrictions imposed on the use of data by the communicating State concerned.