The Commission shall assess the performance plans, their targets and in particular their consistency with and adequate contribution to the Union-wide performance targets, as well as with the criteria laid down in Annex IV, taking into account the evolution of the context that may have occurred between the date of adoption of the Union-wide targets and the date of assessment of the performance plan. Where targets are set at local level without reference to a Union-wide performance target, the assessment shall be based on the criteria laid down in Annex IV.

Where the Commission finds that a performance plan, or part thereof, and its targets are consistent with and adequately contribute to the Union-wide targets and are consistent with all the criteria laid down in Annex IV, it shall notify the Member State(s) concerned thereof within five months after reception of the performance plan.

Where the Commission finds that a performance plan, or part thereof, and some or all of its target(s) are not consistent with the Union-wide targets and are not contributing adequately to them and/or are not consistent with one or more of the criteria laid down in Annex IV, it shall, within five months after reception of the performance plan and in accordance with the procedure established in Article 5(2) of Regulation (EC) No 549/2004, issue a recommendation to the Member State(s) concerned to adopt a revised performance plan, or part thereof, and/or target(s). This recommendation shall be made after consultation of the Member State(s) concerned, and shall identify precisely which parts of the performance plan and/or target(s) are to be revised as well as explaining the rationale of the Commission’s assessment.

In such case, the Member State(s) concerned shall adopt a revised performance plan, or part thereof, and/or target(s), taking account of the Commission’s views, together with the appropriate measures for reaching those targets and shall notify the Commission accordingly within four months after the notification of the recommendation.