Article 5

The partners eligible for financing under this Regulation are regional and international organisations, non-governmental organisations, national, regional and local authorities and official agencies, Community-based organisations and public or private-sector institutes and operators.F1In the case of EU Election Observation Missions and ‘amicus curiae’ proceedings, natural persons shall be eligible for financing under this Regulation. F2Eligibility for grant contracts shall be further determined in accordance with the rules of eligibility, and the derogations therefrom, set out in Council Regulation (EC) No 2112/2005 0f 21 November 2005 on access to Community external assistance ^f1 .

Operations financed by the Community under this Regulation shall be implemented by the Commission either at the request of a partner referred to in paragraph 1 or on its own initiative.