Article 4Evaluation of the annual budget forecast
1.The Commission shall evaluate the annual budget forecasts by taking into account the national programmes approved in accordance to Article 6(3) of Regulation (EC) No 199/2008.
2.For the purpose of evaluating the annual budget forecast, the Commission may request a Member State to provide further clarification on the expenditure concerned. The Member State shall provide that clarification within 15 calendar days from the Commission’s request.
3.If the Member State fails to communicate sufficient clarification within the deadline referred to in paragraph 2, the Commission may exclude as appropriate the concerned expenditure from the respective annual budget forecast to be approved.