The requirement of ex ante approval by the Commission of project selection and contracting for supporting measure 2 "Technical assistance" by the Republic of Latvia provided for in Article 12(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1266/1999 is hereby waived.
Management of the Sapard programme is conferred on a provisional basis to:
1. the Agency for Rural Support Service of the Republic of Latvia, Republikas Laukums 2, Riga LV 1981 for the implementation of supporting measure 2 "Technical assistance" as defined in the programme for agricultural and rural development that was approved in accordance with Commission Decision C(2000) 3097 of 25 October 2000;
and
2. the Ministry of Finance National Fund located at Smilsu Iela 1, Riga LV 1919, for the financial functions it is due to perform in the framework of the implementation of Sapard for supporting measure 2 "Technical assistance" for the Republic of Latvia.
Expenditure within the measure "Technical assistance" shall be eligible for Community cofinance from 25 October 2000, provided in all cases it has not been paid by the Sapard agency prior to the date of adoption of this decision.
Done at Brussels, 24 September 2003.
For the Commission
Franz Fischler
Member of the Commission
(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999, p. 68.
(2) C(2000) 3097.
(3) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999, p. 87.
(4) OJ L 99, 17.4.2003, p. 24.
(5) OJ L 327, 12.12.2001, p. 45.
(6) OJ L 253, 7.10.2000, p. 5.
(7) OJ L 27, 1.2.2003, p. 14.