Article 5
Tasks of the Sapard agency 1. The implementation task of the Sapard agency shall comprise: - call for applications, - project selection, - checking of applications for approval of projects against terms and conditions, eligibility and against the content of the approved Sapard agriculture and rural development programme, hereinafter referred to as "the programme", including, where appropriate, public procurement provisions, - laying down contractual obligations between the agency and potential beneficiaries and the issue of approval to commence work, - execution of on-the-spot checks both prior to and following project approval, - follow-up action to ensure progress of projects being implemented, - reporting of progress of measures being implemented against indicators. 2. The payment task of the Sapard agency shall comprise: - checking of payment claims, - execution of on-the-spot checks to establish eligibility for payment, - authorisation of payment, - execution of payment, - accounting of commitment and payment, - where applicable, controls on beneficiaries after payment of aid to establish whether the terms and conditions of the grants continue to be respected. 3. Where functions of implementation and payment are not discharged within a single administrative structure, they may be carried out by other parties provided the provisions of paragraph 2.3 of the Annex are respected. However, in no case may the execution of payment and of accounting of commitment and payment be delegated. The project approval, on-the-spot controls and payment processes must be based on an appropriate segregation of duties. 4. Any proposed changes in the implementing and/or paying arrangements of the Sapard agency after its accreditation shall be submitted by the competent authority to the Commission. 5. Where the Sapard agency does not also discharge the functions of the managing authority provided for in Article 9 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2759/1999(8), it shall communicate to that authority the information necessary to perform its functions.