TITLE VU.K.FINANCIAL PROVISIONS

Common provisions on refundsU.K.

Article 99U.K.Administration costs

Two or more Member States or the competent authorities of those Member States may, in accordance with the provisions of the third sentence of Article 84 (2) of the Regulation, agree to increase the amount of the benefits referred to in Articles 93 to 98 of the implementing Regulation by a specific percentage in order to take into account administration costs. That percentage may vary in accordance with the benefits concerned.

Article 100U.K.Late claims

1.In the settlement of accounts between institutions of the Member States, claims for refunds relating to benefits provided during a calendar year three years or more previous to the date of submission of such claims, whether they are submitted to a liaison body or to the institution responsible for payment of the competent State, may be disregarded by the institution responsible for payment.

2.For claims relating to lump-sum refunds, the three-year period shall run from the date of publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities of the average annual cost of benefits in kind determined in accordance with Articles 94 and 95 of the implementing Regulation.

Article 101 (8)U.K.Statement of claims

1.Pursuant to Articles 36, 63 and 70 of the Regulation, the Administrative Commission shall draw up a statement of claims in respect of each calendar year.

2.The Administrative Commission may arrange for any checks appropriate to the investigation of the statistical and accounting data needed in the drawing up of the statement of claims provided for in paragraph 1, in particular to ensure their compliance with the rules laid down under this Title.

3.The Administrative Commission shall take the decision referred to in this Article on the report of the Audit Board which shall furnish it with an opinion, stating the reasons on which such opinion is based. The Administrative Commission shall determine the methods of operation and the composition of the Audit Board.

Article 102 (8)U.K.Functions of the Audit Board — Refund procedure

1.The Audit Board shall:

(a)collect the necessary data and arrange for the calculations required for the implementation of the present Title;

(b)give the Administrative Commission periodic accounts of the results of the implementation of the Regulations, in particular as regards the financial aspect;

(c)make any useful suggestions it may have to the Administrative Commission in connection with the provisions of subparagraphs (a) and (b);

(d)submit to the Administrative Commission proposals on the observations forwarded to it in accordance with Articles 94 (4) and 95 (4) of the implementing Regulation;

(e)lay before the Administrative Commission proposals relating to the implementation of Article 101 of the implementing Regulation;

(f)carry out all work, studies or assignments on matters referred to it by the Administrative Commission.

2.The reimbursements provided for in Articles 36, 63 and 70 of the Regulation shall be made for all the competent institutions of a Member State to the creditor institutions of another Member State through the agency of the bodies designated by the competent authorities of the Member States. The bodies through which reimbursements have been made shall advise the Administrative Commission of the amounts reimbursed within the time limits and according to the procedures laid down by the said Commission.

3.When the refunds are determined on the basis of the actual amount of benefits provided, as shown in the accounts of the institutions, they shall be made, for each calendar half-year, during the following calendar half-year.

4.When the refunds are determined on a lump-sum basis, they shall be made for each calendar year; in such case, the competent institutions shall pay advances to the creditor institutions on the first day of each calendar half-year, in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Administrative Commission.

5.The competent authorities of two or more Member states may agree on other time limits for refunds or other procedures for the payment of advances.

Article 103U.K.Compilation of statistical and accounting data

The competent authorities of the Member States shall take all the necessary measures for the implementation of the present Title, in particular those necessitating the compilation of statistical or accounting data.

Article 104 (8)U.K.Entry in Annex 5 of agreements on refunds between Member States or the competent authorities of the Member States

1.Provisions which are similar to those of Articles 36 (3), 63 (3), and 70 (3) of the Regulation, and of Articles 93 (6), 94 (6), and 95 (6) of the implementing Regulation and which are in force on the day preceding the entry into force of the Regulation, shall continue to apply provided they are included in Annex 5 to the implementing Regulation.

2.Provisions which are similar to those referred to in paragraph 1 and which, for the purposes of dealings between two or more Member States, will apply following the entry into force of the Regulation shall be entered in Annex 5 to the implementing Regulation. The same shall apply to provisions agreed under Article 97 (2) of the implementing Regulation.