Article 13
1. The principle of sound financial management required that EDF resources shall be implemented in compliance with effective and efficient internal control as appropriate in each management mode. 2. For the purposes of the implementation of EDF resources, internal control is defined as a process applicable at all levels of the management and designed to provide reasonable assurance on the achievement of the following objectives: (a) effectiveness, efficiency and economy of operations; (b) reliability of reporting; (c) safeguarding of assets and information; (d) prevention and detection of fraud and irregularities; (e) adequate management of the risks relating to the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions, taking into account the multiannual character of programmes as well as the nature of the payments concerned.