Article 2
Definitions For the purposes of this Regulation: (a) "applicant countries" means the countries listed in Article 1(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1268/1999; (b) "national fund" means the body appointed by the applicant country and placed under the responsibility of the national authorising officer bearing the full financial responsibility and liability for the funds, which acts as the competent authority. The national authorising officer is the contact point for financial information sent between the Commission and the applicant country; (c) "competent authority" means the body, in the applicant country, (i) issuing, monitoring and withdrawing accreditation of the Sapard agency for the purposes of Article 1(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1663/95; and (ii) appointing a certifying body; (d) "Sapard agency" means the body established by the applicant country and operating under its responsibility which discharges two functions: an implementing function and a paying function. Only one Sapard agency may be accredited at any time in each applicant country; (e) "certifying Body" means the body which is operationally independent of the Sapard agency and establishes the attestation of the accounts, reports on the management and control systems and verifies the co-financing elements; (f) "multiannual financing agreement" means the agreement setting out the relevant provisions to be respected for Sapard co-financing; (g) "annual financing agreement" means the agreement setting out the financial allocation for the year in question on the basis of the appropriations entered in the Community budget and supplements and amends, as appropriate, provisions laid down in the multiannual financing agreement; (h) "Sapard euro account" means the account opened by the national authorising officer under their responsibility in a financial or treasury institution bearing interest under normal commercial conditions to receive payments referred to in Article 8 and used exclusively for Sapard transactions and maintained in euro; (i) "financial year" means the calendar year 1 January to 31 December. CHAPTER 2 CONFERRAL OF MANAGEMENT