right to offset, and the right to assert any other claims which the Contractor may have against the Agency [or]  the Commission under the contract or in connection with it or on any other grounds. 

2. Our obligations under this guarantee shall not be affected by any arrangements or agreements made by the Agency [or]  the Commission with the Contractor which may concern its obligations under the contract. 

3. We shall inform immediately the Agency [o r] the Commission in writing, by registered letter or by courier with written receipt or equivalent, in the event of a change of our legal status, ownership or address. 

This guarantee shall come into force upon its signature. 

## ARTICLE 5 – END DATE AND CONDITIONS OF RELEASE 

## ARTICLE 4 – DATE OF ENTRY INTO FORCE 

1. We may be released from this guarantee only with the Agency’s [or] the Commission’s written consent. 

2. This guarantee shall expire on return of this original document by the Agency [or] the Commission to our offices. 

3. [ Option 1a for performance guarantee : This must occur at the latest 30 days after the payment of the balance under the contract has been made or four months after the notification of the corresponding debit note.] 

[ Option 1b for retention money guarantee : This must occur at the latest 30 days after final approval of the deliverables linked to the performance of the contract or four months after the notification of the corresponding debit note.] 

[ Option 2 to be used only if the law applicable to the guarantee imposes a precise expiry date : This must occur, in any case, at the latest, on [ indicate a precise date ] . ] 

4. After expiry, this guarantee shall become automatically null and no claim relating thereto shall be receivable for any reason whatsoever. 

## ARTICLE 6 – APPLICABLE LAW AND COMPETENT JURISDICTION 

[ Option 1: Any dispute concerning this guarantee shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of Finland and shall fall within the sole competence of the Courts of Helsinki. 

[ Option 2 : Any dispute concerning this guarantee shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of [ insert the country of establishment of the Contractor or Bank ] and fall within the sole competence of the [ insert the corresponding national courts ] Courts.] 

