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1. Articles 56 and 57 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 shall apply.

2. Subject to the provisions of paragraphs 3 to 5 of this Article, the rules on methods of implementation provided for in Chapter 2 of Title IV of Part One of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012, and Articles 188 and 193 of that Regulation, shall apply. However, point (b) of Article 58(1) and Article 59 of that Regulation, concerning shared management with Member States, shall not be applicable.

3. The entrusted entities shall ensure consistency with the Union's external policy and may entrust budget implementation tasks to other entities under conditions equivalent to those applying to the Commission. They shall fulfil their obligations under Article 60(5) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 annually. The audit opinion shall be submitted within one month of the report and management declaration, to be taken into account in the assurance of the Commission.

International organisations as referred to in point (c)(ii) of Article 58(1) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 and bodies of the Member States as referred to in points (c)(v) and (vi) of Article 58(1) of that Regulation which have been entrusted by the Commission may also entrust budget implementation tasks to non-profit organisations possessing the appropriate operational and financial capacity, under conditions equivalent to those applying to the Commission. ACP States and OCTs may also entrust budget implementation tasks to their departments and to bodies governed by private law on the basis of a service contract. Those bodies shall be selected on the basis of open, transparent, proportionate and non-discriminatory procedures, avoiding conflict of interests. The financing agreement shall stipulate the terms of the service contract.

4. Where the EDF is implemented in indirect management with ACP States or OCTs, without prejudice to the responsibilities of the ACP States or the OCTs acting in their capacity of contracting authorities, the Commission:

(a) shall, where necessary, recover amounts due from recipients according to Article 80 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012, including by means of a decision which shall be enforceable under the same conditions as those laid down in Article 299 of the Treaty;

(b) may, where the circumstances so require, impose administrative and/or financial penalties under the same conditions as those laid down in Article 109 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012. The financing agreement shall contain provisions on the cooperation between the Commission and the ACP State or OCTs to this end.

5. The Union's financial assistance may be provided through contributions to international, regional or national funds, such as those established or managed by the EIB, Member States, or by partner countries and regions or by international organisations, for attracting joint financing from a number of donors, or to funds set up by one or more donors for the purpose of the joint implementation of projects. Reciprocal access by Union financial institutions to financial instruments set up by other organisations shall be promoted, as appropriate.