Designation of authorities
Article 102
1. The countries participating in a cross-border programme shall appoint a single managing authority, a single certifying authority and a single audit authority, all to be located in one of the Member States participating in the cross-border programme. The certifying authority shall receive the payments made by the Commission and, as a general rule, shall make the payments to the lead beneficiary, in accordance with the provisions laid down in Article 104. The managing authority, after consultation with the countries participating in the programme, shall set up a joint technical secretariat. The joint technical secretariat shall assist the managing authority and the joint monitoring committee referred to in Article 110 and, where appropriate, the audit authority and the certifying authority, in carrying out their respective duties. The joint technical secretariat may have antennae established in other participating countries. 2. The audit authority for the cross-border programme shall be assisted by a group of auditors comprising a representative of each country participating in the cross-border programme carrying out the duties provided for in Article 105. The group of auditors shall be set up within three months of the decision approving the cross-border programme at the latest. It shall draw up its own rules of procedure. It shall be chaired by the audit authority for the cross-border programme. The participating countries may decide by unanimity that the audit authority is authorised to carry out directly the duties provide for in Article 105 in the whole of the territory covered by the programme without the need for a group of auditors as defined in the first subparagraph. The auditors shall be independent of the control system referred to in Article 108. 3. Each country participating in the cross-border programme shall appoint representatives to sit on the joint monitoring committee referred to in Article 110. 4. Where one or more of the tasks of a managing authority or certifying authority are performed by an intermediate body, the relevant arrangements shall be formally recorded in writing. The provisions of this Regulation concerning the managing authority, the audit authority and the certifying authority shall apply to that intermediate body.