Division 3 Management and control activities

Project selection procedures, ensuring the principles of transparency, equal treatment, non-discrimination, objectivity and fair competition. With a view to respect these principles:

1. (a)

   the projects shall be selected and awarded on the basis of pre-announced selection and award criteria which are defined in the evaluation grid. The selection criteria serve to assess the applicant's ability to complete the proposed action or work programme. The award criteria are used to assess the quality of the project's proposal against the set objectives and priorities;

2. (b)

   the grants shall be subject to ex ante and ex post publicity rules;

3. (c)

   the applicants shall be informed in writing about the evaluation results. If the grant requested is not awarded, the Managing Authority shall provide the reasons for the rejection of the application with reference to the selection and award criteria that are not met by the application;

4. (d)

   any conflict of interest shall be avoided;

5. (e)

   the same rules and conditions shall be applied to all applicants.

Contract management procedures.

Verification procedures including administrative verifications in respect of each payment request by beneficiaries and the on-the-spot verifications of projects.

Procedures for processing and authorising payments.

Procedures for establishing a system to collect, record and store electronically data on each project and for ensuring that the IT systems are secured in line with internationally accepted standards.

Procedures established by the managing authority to ensure that beneficiaries maintain either a separate accounting system or an adequate accounting code for all transactions relating to a project.

Procedures for putting in place effective and proportionate anti-fraud measures.

Procedures for drawing up the accounts and ensure that they are true, complete and accurate and that the expenditure complies with applicable rules.

Procedures to ensure an adequate audit trail and archiving system.

Procedures to draw up the management declaration of assurance, report on the controls carried out and weaknesses identified, and the annual summary of final audits and controls.

Where tasks are delegated to intermediate bodies, the designation criteria should include an assessment of the procedures in place to ensure that the Managing Authority verifies the capacity of the intermediate bodies to carry out tasks and to monitor that these tasks are being properly implemented.