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In Article 4.7 of EEA Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 regulation are set out the responsibilities of the Programme Operator, which is responsible for preparing and implementing the programme in accordance with the principles of economy, efficiency and effectiveness and in particular for:

 

a) Ensuring that projects contribute to the overall objectives of the EEA Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 and the specific programme outcome(s) and objective(s) and that they comply with this Regulation, the programme agreement as well as applicable national and European Union law in all implementation phases;

b) Collecting applications, selecting projects to be funded and signing project contracts for each project;

c) Verifying the project outputs and that the expenditure declared by the Projects Promoters has actually been incurred and complies with this Regulation, the programme agreement as well as applicable national and European Union law;

d) Ensuring that payments of the project grant are made in a timely manner;

e) Ensuring the quality of the implementation of the programme and verifying the projects’ progress towards expected outcomes, inter alia through reviews and/or on-the-spot verification of projects carried out on a sample basis;

f) Conducting annual monitoring of a sample of projects, selected based on risk assessment and including random samples;

g) Ensuring that the financial contribution is used exclusively for the purpose of the programme and its projects and according to the programme agreement and that all assets forming part of the programme are used only for such purposes as provided for in the programme agreement;

h) Ensuring that there is a system for recording and storing in computerised form accounting records for each project under the programme and that the data on implementation necessary for financial management, reporting, monitoring, verifications, audits and evaluation are collected;

i) Establishing an organisational structure of the Programme Operator that ensures independence and functional separation of the division responsible for verification of payment claims from other divisions responsible for the implementation of the programme;

j) Subject to contrary provisions of the national law of the Beneficiary State, establishing and maintaining a separate interest-bearing bank account dedicated to the funds intended for regranting;

k) Ensuring that Project Promoters maintain either a separate accounting system or an adequate accounting code for all transactions relating to the project without prejudice to national accounting rules;

l) Ensuring transparency and availability of documents in accordance with the requirements of Article 8.8;

m) ensuring that the Certifying Authority receives all necessary information on the procedures and verifications carried out in relation to expenditure for the purpose of certification;

n) drawing up and submitting the interim financial reports, the annual programme report, the final programme report and reports on interests earned in accordance with Articles 5.11, 5.12, 8.3, 8.4 and 8.7;

o) Submitting to the Certifying Authority a forecast of likely payment applications necessary for the Certifying Authority to fulfil its obligations in accordance with Article 8.5;

p) Ensuring entry of project-specific statistical data to maintain the reporting database in accordance with the Programme Operator’s Manual (Annex 9);

q) Ensuring that the FMC and the National Focal Point is upon request, and within reasonable time, provided with all documents and information related to the implementation of the programme and its projects;

r) Ensuring that the Project Promoters are fully committed and able to implement their projects;

s) Ensuring that all necessary and appropriate measures are taken to prevent, detect and nullify any cases of suspected or actual irregularities, that they are investigated promptly and efficiently and properly reported and remedied, including making any financial corrections that may be appropriate;

t) ensuring that all relevant local, national and European Union legislation (including, but not limited to, legislation on the environment, public procurement and state aid) are complied with; and

u) Complying with any other obligations stipulated in the programme agreement;

v) Complying with legal and regulatory provisions on information and publicity and ensure that the project promoters also they fully comply with these obligations;

w) Ensuring the compliance with the requirements set by the FMC for submission information electronically.

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