General principles
Verification shall be by administrative and on-the-spot checks.
Administrative checks shall be exhaustive and shall include cross-checks with, inter alia , data from the integrated administration and control system provided for in Chapter II of Title V, Chapter II of Title VI and Articles 47, 61 and 102, paragraph 3 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 9 ) .
On the basis of a risk analysis in accordance with Article 22(1) of this Regulation, the competent authorities shall perform on-the-spot checks by sampling at least 5 % of aid applications. The sample must also represent at least 5 % of the amounts covered by the aid.
In all appropriate cases, Greece shall make use of the integrated administration and control system.
On-the-spot checks
1. On-the-spot checks shall be unannounced. However, provided that the purpose of the check is not compromised, advance notice limited to the strict minimum necessary may be given. Such notice shall not exceed 48 hours, except in duly justified cases.
2. Where applicable, the on-the-spot checks provided for in this Section shall be carried out in conjunction with any other checks provided for by Union legislation.
3. The aid application or applications concerned shall be rejected if aid applicants or their representatives prevent an on-the-spot check from being carried out.
Selection of aid applicants to be subjected to on-the-spot checks
1. Aid applicants shall be selected to undergo on-the-spot checks by the competent authority on the basis of a risk analysis and the representativeness of the aid applications submitted. The risk analysis shall, as appropriate, take account of:
(a)
the amount of aid;
(b)
the number of agricultural parcels and the surface area and, if applicable, the number of animals covered by the aid application, or the quantity produced, transported, processed or marketed;
(c)
changes in comparison with the previous year;
(d)
the findings of checks performed in the preceding years;
(e)
other parameters to be defined by Greece.
To provide the element of representativeness, Greece shall randomly select between 20 % and 25 % of the minimum number of aid applicants to be subjected to on-the-spot checks.
2. The competent authority shall keep records of the reasons why specific aid applicants were selected for on-the-spot checks. The inspector performing the on-the-spot check shall be informed of those reasons before beginning the check.
Inspection report
1. Every on-the-spot check shall be the subject of an inspection report relating the details of the checks carried out. Reports shall indicate in particular:
(a)
the aid schemes and applications checked;
(b)
the persons present;
(c)
the agricultural parcels checked, the agricultural parcels measured, the results of the measurements per parcel measured and the measuring methods used;
(d)
the number and type of animals found and, where applicable, the ear tag numbers, entries in the register and in the computerised database for bovine animals and any supporting documents checked, the results of the checks and, where applicable, particular observations in respect of individual animals or their identification code;
(e)
the quantities produced, transported, processed or marketed which are covered by the check;
(f)
whether advance notice was given to the aid applicant of the visit and, if so, how much;
(g)
any further control measures carried out.
2. Aid applicants or their representatives shall be given the opportunity to sign the report to attest their presence at the check and to add observations. Where irregularities are found the aid applicant shall receive a copy of the inspection report.
Where the on-the-spot check is carried out by remote-sensing, Greece may decide not to give the aid applicants or their representatives the opportunity to sign the inspection report if no irregularities are revealed during the check by remote-sensing.
Source: EUR-Lex (Publications Office of the EU), © European Union, reuse permitted under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.
