1. In matters concerning the prevention of and countering the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering and terrorist financing, in accordance with Directive (EU) 2015/849, the Authority may, where it has indications of material breaches, request a competent authority as referred to in point (2)(iii) of Article 4: (a) to investigate possible breaches of Union law, and where such Union law is composed of Directives or explicitly grants options for Member States, breaches of national law to the extent that it transposes Directives or exercises options granted to Member States by Union law, by a financial sector operator; and (b) to consider imposing sanctions on that operator in respect of such breaches. Where necessary, it may also request a competent authority as referred to in point (2)(iii) of Article 4 to consider adopting an individual decision addressed to that financial sector operator requiring it to undertake all necessary action to comply with its obligations under directly applicable Union law, or under national law to the extent that it transposes Directives or exercises options granted to Member States by Union law, including the cessation of any practice. The requests referred to in this paragraph shall not impede ongoing supervisory measures by the competent authority to which the request is addressed.