(1) Article 3 is amended as follows:

(a) paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

‘1.   Without prejudice to this Directive, Article 5, Articles 11 to 17, Article 19(5) and (6) and Articles 20 to 31 of Directive (EU) 2015/2366 of the European Parliament and of the Council (37), including the delegated acts adopted under Article 15(4), Article 28(5) and Article 29(7) thereof, shall apply to electronic money institutions mutatis mutandis.

(b) paragraphs 4 and 5 are replaced by the following:

‘4.   Member States shall allow electronic money institutions to distribute and redeem electronic money through natural or legal persons which act on their behalf. Where the electronic money institution distributes electronic money in another Member State by engaging such a natural or legal person, Articles 27 to 31, with exception of Article 29(4) and (5), of Directive (EU) 2015/2366, including the delegated acts adopted in accordance with Article 28(5) and Article 29(7) thereof, shall apply mutatis mutandis to such electronic money institution.

5.   Notwithstanding paragraph 4 of this Article, electronic money institutions shall not issue electronic money through agents. Electronic money institutions shall be allowed to provide payment services referred to in point (a) of Article 6(1) of this Directive through agents subject to the conditions laid down in Article 19 of Directive (EU) 2015/2366.’;

(2) in Article 18, the following paragraph is added:

‘4.   Member States shall allow electronic money institutions that have, before 13 January 2018, taken up activities in accordance with this Directive and with Directive 2007/64/EC in the Member State in which their head office is located to continue those activities in that Member State or in another Member State without being required to seek authorisation in accordance with Article 3 of this Directive or to comply with other requirements laid down or referred to in Title II of this Directive until 13 July 2018.

Member States shall require electronic money institutions referred to in the first subparagraph to submit all relevant information to the competent authorities in order to allow the later to assess, by 13 July 2018, whether those electronic money institutions comply with the requirements laid down in Title II of this Directive, and, if not, which measures need to be taken in order to ensure compliance or whether a withdrawal of authorisation is appropriate.

Electronic money institutions referred to in the first subparagraph which upon verification by the competent authorities comply with the requirements laid down in Title II shall be granted authorisation and shall be entered in the register. Where those electronic money institutions do not comply with the requirements laid down in Title II by 13 July 2018 they shall be prohibited from issuing electronic money.’.