I tilfælde af, at en Medlemsstat har vanskeligheder eller alvorligt trues af vanskeligheder med hensyn til sin betalingsbalance, enten som følge af uligevægt på dens globale betalingsbalance eller som folge af arten af den valuta, den råder over, og navnlig når disse vanskeligheder vil kunne bringe fællesmarkedets funktion eller den gradvise virkeliggørelse af den fælles handelspolitik i fare, indleder Kommissionen uopholdeligt en undersøgelse af situationen i den pågældende Stat og af de foranstaltninger, som denne har truffet eller kan træffe i henhold til bestemmelserne i artikel 104 under anvendelse afalle til rådighed stående midler.
Where a Member State is in difficulties or is seriously threatened with difficulties as regards its balance of payments either as a result of an overall disequilibrium in its balance of payments, or as a result of the type of currency at its disposal, and where such difficulties are liable in particular to jeopardise the functioning of the common market or the progressive implementation of the common commercial policy, the Commission shall immediately investigate the position of the State in question and the action which, making use of all the means at its disposal, that State has taken or may take in accordance with the provisions of Article 104.