Article 27 DefinitionsX1

For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:

1. (a)

   ‘ economic operator ’ means any natural or legal person or other entity taking part in the implementation of assistance from the Funds, with the exception of a Member State exercising its prerogatives as a public authority;

2. (b)

   ‘ primary administrative or judicial finding ’ means a first written assessment by a competent authority, either administrative or judicial, concluding on the basis of specific facts that an irregularity has been committed, without prejudice to the possibility that this conclusion may subsequently have to be revised or withdrawn as a result of developments in the course of the administrative or judicial procedure;

3. (c)

   ‘suspected fraud’ means an irregularity giving rise to the initiation of administrative or judicial proceedings at national level in order to establish the presence of intentional behaviour, in particular fraud, as referred to in Article 1(1)(a) of the Convention drawn up on the basis of Article K.3 of the Treaty on European Union, on the protection of the European Communities' financial interests ^f1 ;

4. (d)

   ‘bankruptcy’ means insolvency proceedings within the meaning of Article 2(a) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1346/2000 ^f2 .