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1. The Authority shall become operational with the capacity to implement its own budget by 1 August 2021.

2. The Commission shall be responsible for the establishment and initial operation of the Authority until the Authority becomes operational. For that purpose:

(a) until the Executive Director takes up his or her duties following his or her appointment by the Management Board in accordance with Article 31, the Commission may designate a Commission official to act as interim Executive Director and exercise the duties assigned to the Executive Director;

(b) by derogation from point (k) of Article 18(1) and until the adoption of a decision as referred to in Article 18(2), the interim Executive Director shall exercise the appointing authority power;

(c) the Commission may offer assistance to the Authority, in particular by seconding Commission officials to carry out the activities of the Authority under the responsibility of the interim Executive Director or the Executive Director;

(d) the interim Executive Director may authorise all payments covered by appropriations entered in the Authority’s budget after approval by the Management Board and may conclude contracts, including staff contracts, following the adoption of the Authority’s establishment plan.