Article 12 Protecting the Union’s financial interestsX1F1

Any agreements resulting from this Regulation shall contain provisions ensuring the protection of the Union’s financial interests, in particular with respect to irregularities, fraud, corruption and any other illegal activity, in accordance with Council Regulations (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 of 18 December 1995 on the protection of the European Communities financial interests ^f1 and (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 of 11 November 1996 concerning on the spot checks and inspections carried out by the Commission in order to protect the European Communities’ financial interests against fraud and other irregularities ^f2 and Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 May 1999 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) ^f3 .

Agreements shall expressly entitle the Commission and the Court of Auditors to perform audits, including document audits or on-the-spot audits of any contractor or subcontractor who has received Union funds. They shall also expressly authorise the Commission to carry out on-the-spot checks and inspections in accordance with Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96.

All contracts resulting from the implementation of cooperation shall ensure the rights of the Commission and the Court of Auditors under paragraph 2 during and after the performance of the contracts.