1. The Authority may, upon a request from the European Parliament, from the Council or from the Commission, or on its own initiative, provide opinions to the European Parliament, to the Council and to the Commission on all issues related to its area of competence.

2. The request referred to in paragraph 1 may include a public consultation or a technical analysis.

3. With regard to the prudential assessment of mergers and acquisitions falling within the scope of Directive 2009/138/EC and which, according to that Directive, require consultation between competent authorities from two or more Member States, the Authority may, at the request of one of the competent authorities concerned, issue and publish an opinion on a prudential assessment, except in relation to the criteria set out in point (e) of Article 59(1) of Directive 2009/138/EC. The opinion shall be issued promptly and, in any event, before the end of the assessment period in accordance with Directive 2009/138/EC.