No L 44/40 Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 2. 89 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DIRECTIVE . of 13 February 1989 on the obligations of branches established in a Member State of credit institutions and . financial institutions having their head. offices outside that Member State regarding the publication of annual accounting documents (89/117/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard ‘to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 54 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), In cooperation with the European Parliament (3, Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%) Whereas the establishment of a European internal market presupposes: that the branches of- credit institutions and financial - institutions -having their head offices- in other Member States should be treated in the same way as branches of credit institutions and financial institutions having their head: offices in the same Member- State ; whereas this means that, with regard to the publication of annual accounting documents, it is sufficient for the branches of such institutions having their head offices in other Member States to publish the annual accounting documents of their institution as a whole; Whereas, as part-of a further instrument of coordination of the disclosure requirements in respect of branches, provision is made for certain documents and particulars relating to branches established in a2 Member State which certain types of companies ' governed by the law of another Member State, including banks and: other financial institutions, have to publish ; whereas, as regards () OJ No C 230, 11. 9. 1986, p. 4. () OJ No C 319, 30. 11. 1987, p. 64 and OJ C 290, 14. 11. 1988, 66 : p. 66. () OJ No C 345, 21. 12. 1987, p. 73. disclosure of accounting documents, reference is made to specific provisions to be laid down for banks and other financial - institutions ; Whereas the present practice of some Member States of requiring the branches of credit institutions and financial institutions having their head - offices - outside these Member States to publish annual accounts relating to their own activities is no longer justified following the adoption of Council Directive 86/635/EEC of 8 December 1986 on the annual accounts and consolidated accounts of banks and .other financial institutions (*); whereas the publication of annual branch accounts cannot in any case provide the public, and in particular creditors, with an adequate view of the financial situation of the undertaking, since part of a whole cannot be viewed in isolation ; Whereas, on the other hand, in view of the present level of integration, the need for certain information on the activities of branches established in a Member State. by credit institutions-and financial institutions having -their head offices outside that Member State cannot be disregarded ; whereas, nevertheless, he -extent of such information should be limited so as to prevent distortions of competition ; Whereas, however, this Directive affects only disclosure requirements concerning annual- accounts, and does not in any way affect the \obligations of branches of credit institutions and financial institutions to = provide information pursuant to other requirements, deriving, for () OJ No L 372, 31. 12. 1986, p. 1.