1.Following the Commission decision approving the cross-border programme, and upon acceptance of the report referred to in Article 116, a single pre-financing amount shall be paid by the Commission to the body designated by the participating countries.
The pre-financing amount shall amount to 25 % of the first three budgetary commitments to the programme.
The pre-financing amount may be paid in two instalments, where necessary with regard to the availability of budgetary commitment.
2.The total amount paid as pre-financing shall be reimbursed to the Commission by the body designated by the participating countries if no payment application under the cross-border programme is sent within twenty-four months of the date on which the Commission pays the first instalment of the pre-financing amount.