Article 17 Tasks of the competent bodies

The competent bodies shall carry out the following tasks:

1. (a)

   they shall conduct regular checks to ensure that the actions to be financed under Regulation (EC) No 2152/2003 have been implemented correctly;

2. (b)

   they shall take appropriate measures to prevent irregularities and fraud and if necessary bring prosecutions to recover funds lost, wrongly paid or incorrectly used;

3. (c)

   they shall provide the Commission with any information it requests;

4. (d)

   they shall be the intermediary to whom the Community contribution is paid,

5. (e)

   they shall hold the accounts and records of the receipt and payment of that contribution in support of the national programme, including all invoices and documents of a similar probative value to support the costs of the programme.