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CHAPTER IIU.K.Procedures for the implementation of humanitarian aid

Article 6U.K.

Humanitarian aid operations financed by the Community may be implemented either at the request of international or non-governmental agencies and organizations from a Member State or a recipient third country or on the initiative of the Commission.

Article 7U.K.

1.Non-governmental organizations eligible for Community financing for the implementation of operations under this Regulation must meet the following criteria:

(a)be non-profit-making autonomous organizations in a Member State of the Community under the laws in force in that Member State;

(b)have their main headquarters in a Member State of the Community or in the third countries in receipt of Community aid. This headquarters must be the effective decision-making centre for all operations financed under this Regulation. Exceptionally, the headquarters may be in a third donor country.

2.When determining a non-governmental organization's suitability for Community funding, account shall be taken of the following factors:

(a)its administrative and financial management capacities;

(b)its technical and logistical capacity in relation to the planned operation;

(c)its experience in the field of humanitarian aid;

(d)the results of previous operations carried out by the organization concerned, and in particular those financed by the Community;

(e)its readiness to take part, if need be, in the coordination system set up for a humanitarian operation;

(f)its ability and readiness to work with humanitarian agencies and the basic communities in the third countries concerned;

(g)its impartiality in the implementation of humanitarian aid;

(h)where appropriate, its previous experience in the third country involved in the humanitarian operation concerned.

Article 8U.K.

The Community may also finance humanitarian operations by international agencies and organizations.

Article 9U.K.

Where necessary, the Community may also finance humanitarian operations by the Commission or the Member States' specialized agencies.

Article 10U.K.

1.In order to guarantee and enhance the effectiveness and consistency of Community and national humanitarian aid systems, the Commission may take any measure necessary to promote close coordination between its own activities and those of the Member States, both at decision-making level and on the ground. To that end, the Member States and the Commission shall operate a system for exchange of information.

2.The Commission shall ensure that humanitarian operations financed by the Community are coordinated and consistent with those of international organizations and agencies, in particular those which form part of the United Nations system.

3.The Commission shall endeavour to develop collaboration and cooperation between the Community and third-country donors in the field of humanitarian aid.

Article 11U.K.

1.The Commission shall lay down the conditions for allocating, mobilizing and implementing aid under this Regulation.

2.Aid shall not be implemented unless the recipient complies with these conditions.

Article 12U.K.

All financing contracts concluded under this Regulation shall provide in particular that the Commission and the Court of Auditors may conduct checks on the spot and at the headquarters of humanitarian partners according to the usual procedures established by the Commission under the rules in force, and in particular those of the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.