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1. The Union’s macro-financial assistance shall be implemented in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046.

2. The Union’s macro-financial assistance shall be implemented under direct management.

3. The loan agreement to be agreed with the authorities of North Macedonia shall contain all of the following provisions:

(a) ensuring that North Macedonia regularly checks that financing provided from the general budget of the Union has been properly used, takes appropriate measures to prevent irregularities and fraud and, where necessary, takes legal action to recover any funds provided under this Decision that have been misappropriated;

(b) ensuring the protection of the Union’s financial interests, in particular providing for specific measures in relation to the prevention of, and fight against, fraud, corruption and any other irregularities affecting the Union’s macro-financial assistance, in accordance with Council Regulations (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 and (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 , Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council and, for those Member States participating in enhanced cooperation regarding the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, also in accordance with Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1939 ;

(c) expressly authorising the European Anti-Fraud Office to carry out investigations, including on-the-spot checks and inspections including digital forensic operations and interviews;

(d) expressly authorising the Commission or its representatives to carry out checks, including on-the-spot checks and inspections;

(e) expressly authorising the Commission and the Court of Auditors to perform audits during and after the availability period of the Union’s macro-financial assistance, including document audits and on-the-spot audits, such as operational assessments;

(f) ensuring that the Union is entitled to early repayment of the loan if it has been established that, in relation to the management of the Union’s macro-financial assistance, North Macedonia has engaged in any act of fraud or corruption or any other illegal activity detrimental to the financial interests of the Union;

(g) ensuring that North Macedonia is to bear all costs incurred by the Union that relate to the borrowing and lending operations under this Decision.

4. Before the implementation of the Union’s macro-financial assistance, the Commission shall assess, by means of an operational assessment, the soundness of the country’s financial arrangements, administrative procedures and internal and external control mechanisms, which are relevant to the assistance.