Article 3 Budget

X1The financial envelope for the implementation of the Ignalina programme for the period from 2014 to 2020 shall be EUR 450 818 000 in current prices. This Regulation does not prejudge in any way financial commitments under future multi–annual financial frameworks.

The Commission shall review the performance of the Ignalina programme and assess its progress against the milestones and target dates referred to in Article 7 by the end of 2017 within the framework of the mid-term evaluation referred to in Article 9. Based on the results of that assessment, the amount of the appropriations allocated to the Ignalina programme, as well as the programming period and distribution of funds amongst the Ignalina programme and the Kozloduy and Bohunice programmes as established in Council Regulation (Euratom) No 1368/2013^f1, may be reviewed to take account of the progress made in the implementation of those programmes and to ensure that the programming and allocation of the resources are based on actual payment needs and absorption capacity.

The financial allocation for the Ignalina programme may also cover expenses pertaining to preparatory, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities which are required for the management of that programme and for the achievement of its objectives. In particular, expenses pertaining to studies, meetings of experts, information and communication actions, including corporate communication of the political priorities of the Union as far as they are related to the general objectives of this Regulation, and expenses linked to IT networks focusing on information processing and exchange, together with all other technical and administrative assistance expenses incurred by the Commission for the management of the Ignalina programme may be covered.

The financial allocation for the Ignalina programme may also cover the expenses of technical and administrative assistance necessary to ensure the transition between that programme and the measures adopted under Regulation (EC) No 1990/2006.