Implementation of this component shall be carried out by the beneficiary countries on the basis of decentralised management without ex ante controls as referred to in Article 18.

Further provisions may be set out in the sectoral and financing agreements, referred to in Articles 7 and 8.

The provisions shall be consistent with the relevant rules applicable to rural development programmes in the Member States.

For the purposes of this component, pre-financing payments may amount to 30 % of the European Union contribution for the three most recent years of the programme concerned. Subject to the availability of budgetary appropriations, pre-financing may be paid in two or more instalments.

In cases where the amounts paid for pre-financing referred to in paragraph 1 are not sufficient to ensure timely payment of claims from final beneficiaries, these amounts may be increased according to the provisions laid down in the sectoral or financing agreements during the period of implementation to cover such needs, provided that the cumulative amount of payments for pre-financing does not exceed 30 % of the Community contribution for the three most recent years as established in the financing decision adopting the multi-annual programmes.

The first instalment of pre-financing shall be paid by the Commission when the conditions laid down in Article 42(1) are fulfilled. Additional instalments may be paid following a request of the beneficiary country in accordance with the requirements provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2.

In accordance with Article 57, the programme shall be subject to ex ante, ex post and, where appropriate, interim evaluations carried out by independent evaluators under the responsibility of the beneficiary country.

The evaluations shall assess the implementation of the programme towards the achievement of objectives set out in Article 12 of the IPA Regulation.

Detailed modalities of these evaluations may be set out in the sectoral or financing agreements, respectively referred to in Articles 7 and 8. These modalities shall be consistent with the relevant rules applicable to rural development programmes in the Member States.

In accordance with the provisions of Article 59, a sectoral monitoring committee shall be set up by the beneficiary country.

The sectoral monitoring committee shall be composed of representatives of relevant authorities and bodies, and appropriate economic, social and environmental partners. The sectoral monitoring committee shall draw up and approve its rules of procedure.

The sectoral monitoring committee shall be chaired by a representative of the beneficiary country. The Commission shall participate in the work of the sectoral monitoring committee.

The progress, efficiency and effectiveness of the programme in relation to its objectives shall be measured by means of indicators relating to the baseline situation as well as to the financial execution, outputs, results and impact of the programmes.

A sectoral final report shall, after examination by the sectoral monitoring committee, be submitted to the Commission and the national IPA coordinator, at the latest six months after the final date of eligibility of expenditure under the programme.