
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’, measure 103 ‘Investments in the processing and marketing of agricultural and fishery products to restructure these activities and to upgrade them to Community standards’ and measure 302 ‘Diversification and development of rural economic activities’ by the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 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 former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia for the management of measures 101, 103 and 302 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(3)(c) 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 the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia by letter No 08-44/82 of 22 October 2008 and letter No 08-77/16 of 24 February 2009, registered in the Commission respectively on 21 November 2008 under No A/31025 and on 24 March 2009 under No A/7937, 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 former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia under this Decision are no longer met, the Commission may decide to withdraw or suspend the conferral of management powers.
Done at Brussels, 18 December 2009.
For the Commission
The President
José Manuel BARROSO