1.In the case of cross–border programmes among themselves, the participating beneficiary countries shall set up a joint monitoring committee for each cross-border programme. This joint monitoring committee fulfils the role of the sectoral monitoring committee referred to in Article 59. By way of derogation from Article 59(1), the joint monitoring committee shall be set up within three months after the entry into force of the first financing agreement relating to the programme.
The joint monitoring committees shall meet at least twice a year, at the initiative of the participating countries or of the Commission.
2.Each joint monitoring committee shall draw up its rules of procedures in compliance with a joint monitoring committee mandate set out by the Commission and within the institutional, legal and financing framework of the participating countries concerned, in order to exercise its mission in accordance with the present Regulation. It shall adopt these rules of procedures.
3.The joint monitoring committee shall be chaired by a representative of one of the participating countries.
Each participating country shall appoint its representatives, including representatives of the operating structure responsible for the programme, to sit on the joint monitoring committee. With regards to the composition of the joint monitoring committee, due account shall be taken of provisions of Article 87.
4.The Commission shall participate in the work of the joint monitoring committee in an advisory capacity.
5.The joint monitoring committee shall satisfy itself as to the effectiveness and quality of the implementation of the cross-border programme, in accordance with the following provisions:
(a)it shall consider and approve the criteria for selecting the operations financed by the cross-border programme and approve any revision of those criteria in accordance with programming needs;
(b)it shall periodically review progress made towards achieving the specific targets of the cross-border programme on the basis of documents submitted by the operating structures of participating beneficiary countries;
(c)it shall examine the results of implementation, particularly achievement of the targets set for each priority axis and the evaluations referred to in Article 57(4) and Article 141;
(d)it shall examine the annual and final reports on implementation referred to in Article 144;
(e)it shall be informed, as applicable of the annual audit activity report(s) referred to in Article 29(2)(b) first indent, and of any relevant comments the Commission may make after examining that report;
(f)it shall be responsible for selecting operations, but may delegate this function to a steering committee;
(g)it may propose any revision or examination of the cross-border programme likely to make possible the attainment of the objectives referred to in Article 86(2) or to improve its management, including its financial management;
(h)it shall consider and approve any proposal to amend the content of the cross-border programme.