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 Community contribution for the first three 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.