Article 43U.K.Interim payments
1.In the case of a payment application for an interim payment, the minimum requirements referred to in Article 41 are the following:
(a)the national authorising officer has sent to the Commission a payment application and a statement of expenditure relating to the payment in question; the statement of expenditure shall be certified by the national authorising officer;
(b)the ceilings for Community assistance under each priority axis, as laid down in the Commission financing decision, have been respected;
(c)the operating structure has sent to the Commission the sectoral annual implementation reports as referred to Article 61(1), including the most recent one;
(d)the audit authority has sent to the Commission, in accordance with the first and second indent of Article 29(2)(b), the most recent annual audit activity report and opinion on the conformity of the management and control systems in place with the requirements of this Regulation and/or those of any agreement between the Commission and the beneficiary country;
(e)the accreditations delivered by the competent accrediting officer and the national authorising officer are in force, and the conferral of management by the Commission remains valid.
If one or more of the conditions mentioned in this paragraph are not met, the beneficiary country shall, when so requested by the Commission and within the time limit fixed by the Commission, take the necessary steps to remedy the situation.
2.If it appears that the rules applicable have not been complied with or that Community funds have been improperly used, the Commission may reduce interim payments to the beneficiary country or temporarily suspend them, in accordance with the provisions of Article 46. It shall inform the beneficiary country accordingly.
3.The suspension or reduction of interim payments shall comply with the principle of proportionality and shall be without prejudice to the decisions of conformity and clearance-of-account decisions and financial corrections.