
Article 1 

1. The management of assistance provided for under IPA — Component V as regards agriculture and rural development of the instrument for pre-accession assistance (IPA) is conferred on the concerned bodies under the conditions laid down in this Decision.
2. The requirement for ex-ante approval by the Commission of managing, paying and implementing functions for measure 101 ‘Investments in agriculture holdings to restructure and to upgrade to community standards’ and measure 103 ‘Investments in the processing and marketing of agricultural and fishery products to restructure these activities and to upgrade them to Community standards’ by the Republic of Croatia for in Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 718/2007, is hereby waived.
Article 2 
This Decision shall apply on the basis of the following structures, bodies and authorities designated by the Republic of Croatia for the management of measures 101 and 103 of the Programme provided for under IPA — Component V:

((a)) the National Authorising Officer;
((b)) the National Fund;
((c)) the Operating Structure for IPA — Component V:

— the Managing Authority,
— the IPARD Agency.
Article 3 

1. The management powers are conferred on the structures, bodies and authorities as specified in Article 2 of this Decision.
2. The national authorities shall carry out further verifications with regard to the structures, bodies and authorities set out in Article 2 of this Decision, in order to ensure that the management and control system operates satisfactorily. Verifications shall be carried out before the submission of the first Declaration of Expenditure requesting the reimbursement related to measures stated in Article 1(2) above.
Article 4 

1. Expenditure paid earlier than the date of this Decision shall in no case be eligible with the exception of general costs referred to in Article 172(3c) of Regulation (EC) No 718/2007.
2. Expenditure shall be eligible if it is in accordance with the principles of sound financial management and, in particular, of economy and cost-effectiveness.
Article 5 
Without prejudice to any decisions granting aid under the IPARD Programme to individual beneficiaries, the rules for eligibility of expenditure proposed by Croatia by letter No ‘Class: NP 018-04/09-01/106, Ref. number: 525-12-3-0472/09-2’ of 16 March 2009 and registered in the Commission on 26 March 2009 under No 8151 shall apply.
Article 6 

1. The Commission shall monitor compliance with the requirements for the conferral of management powers as laid down in Article 17 of Regulation (EC) No 718/2007.
2. At any time during the implementation of this Decision, should the Commission consider that the obligations of the Republic of Croatia under this Decision are no longer met, the Commission may decide to withdraw or suspend the conferral of management powers.
Done at Brussels, 30 November 2009.
For the Commission
Mariann FISCHER BOEL
Member of the Commission