Regulation (EC) No 718/2007 is amended as follows:
in Article 34(3), point (e) is replaced by the following:
operating costs, except where otherwise provided for under framework agreements with international organisations;’;
in Article 89(3), the following subparagraph is added:
‘Operating costs, including rental costs, exclusively related to the period of co-financing of the operation, may be considered eligible on a case-by-case basis.’;
in Article 160, paragraph 3 is replaced by the following:
‘3.In addition to the provisions of Article 42, payments for the pre-financing shall amount to 30 % of the European Union contribution for the three most recent years of the programme concerned, and shall be made once the conditions laid down in Article 42(1) are met. Where necessary, with regard to the availability of budgetary commitment, the pre-financing may be made in two instalments.’;
in Article 160, paragraph 4 is deleted;
in Article 188, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:
‘1.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.’.