1.The contribution from the Funds, at the level of operational programmes, shall be calculated with reference to:
(a)either the total eligible expenditure including public and private expenditure;
(b)or the public eligible expenditure.
2.The contribution from the Funds at the level of operational programmes under the Convergence and Regional competitiveness and employment objectives shall be subject to the ceilings set out in Annex III.
3.For operational programmes under the European territorial cooperation objective in which at least one participant belongs to a Member State whose average GDP per capita for the period 2001 to 2003 was below 85 % of the EU-25 average during the same period, the contribution from the ERDF shall not be higher than 85 % of the eligible expenditure. For all other operational programmes, the contribution from the ERDF shall not be higher than 75 % of the eligible expenditure co-financed by the ERDF.
4.The contribution from the Funds at the priority axis level shall not be subject to the ceilings set out in paragraph 3 and in Annex III. However, it shall be fixed so as to ensure compliance with the maximum amount of contribution from the Funds and the maximum contribution rate per Fund fixed at the level of the operational programme.
5.For operational programmes co-financed jointly:
(a)by the ERDF and the Cohesion Fund; or
(b)by the additional allocation for the outermost regions provided for in Annex II, the ERDF and/or the Cohesion Fund,
the decision adopting the operational programme shall fix the maximum rate and the maximum amount of the contribution for each Fund and allocation separately.
6.The Commission's decision adopting an operational programme shall fix the maximum rate and the maximum amount of the contribution from Fund for each operational programme and for each priority axis. The decision shall show separately the appropriations for regions receiving transitional support.