FantasticSearch

1. Based on provisional budgetary appropriations allocated in its own budget, the Commission shall be responsible for the establishment and initial administrative operation of the EPPO until the latter has the capacity to implement its own budget. For that purpose the Commission may:

(a) designate, after consulting with the Council, a Commission official to act as interim Administrative Director and exercise the duties assigned to the Administrative Director, including the powers conferred by the Staff Regulations and the Conditions of Employment on the appointing authority regarding administrative staff of the EPPO, in respect of any staff positions which need to be filled before the Administrative Director takes up his or her duties in accordance with Article 18;

(b) offer assistance to the EPPO, in particular by seconding a limited number of Commission officials necessary to carry out the administrative activities of the EPPO under the responsibility of the interim Administrative Director.

2. The interim Administrative Director may authorise all payments covered by appropriations entered in the EPPO’s budget and may conclude contracts, including staff contracts.

3. Once the College takes up its duties in accordance with Article 9(1), the interim Administrative Director shall exercise his/her duties in accordance with Article 18. The interim Administrative Director shall cease to exercise that function once the Administrative Director has taken up duties following appointment by the College in accordance with Article 18.

4. Until the College takes up its duties in accordance with Article 9(1), the Commission shall exercise its functions set out in this Article in consultation with a group of experts composed of representatives of the Member States.