The Council does not comment on ongoing judicial proceedings in Member States or on implementation of the EU acquis by Member States.

In general the principle of sincere cooperation enshrined in Article 4(3) of the Treaty on European Union does not preclude Member State authorities from availing themselves of grounds of refusal laid down in legal instruments on judicial cooperation.

The EU‑US Agreement of 25 June 2003 on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters(1) does not lay down any time periods for replying to requests for mutual legal assistance.

(1) OJ L 181, 19.7.2003, p. 34.