1. Where objective circumstances suggest that applications for international protection from groups of applicants from a specific country of origin or of former habitual residence, or from a part of such a country, or on the basis of the criteria set out in could be well-founded, the Commission may, after consultation with the High-Level EU Solidarity Forum, adopt a recommendation for the application of an expedited procedure by providing all relevant information in view of facilitating, in particular, the application by the determining authorities of Article 13(11), point (a), and Article 34(5), point (a), of .
2. Where, following the adoption of a recommendation as referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, the determining authority applies Article 13(11), point (a), of to omit the personal interview and Article 34(5), point (a), of that Regulation to prioritise the examination of the application because it is likely to be well-founded, it shall ensure, by way of derogation from Article 35(4) of that Regulation, that the examination of the merits of the application is concluded no later than four weeks from the lodging of the application.
3. When considering whether to adopt a recommendation as referred to in paragraph 1, the Commission may consult the relevant Union agencies, and other relevant organisations.