Responsibilities of the Member States
Article 65
1. Member States shall adopt all the legislative, statutory and administrative provisions in accordance with Article 58(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 in order to ensure that the Union's financial interests are protected effectively. 2. Member States shall designate, for each rural development programme, the following authorities: (a) the Managing Authority, which may be either a public or private body acting at national or regional level, or the Member State itself when it carries out that task, to be in charge of the management of the programme concerned; (b) the accredited paying agency within the meaning of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013; (c) the certification body within the meaning of Article 9 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013. 3. Member States shall ensure, for each rural development programme, that the relevant management and control system has been set up in such a way that ensures a clear allocation and separation of functions between the Managing Authority and other bodies. Member States shall be responsible for ensuring that the systems function effectively throughout the programme period. 4. Member States shall clearly define the tasks of the Managing Authority, the Paying Agency and the local action groups under LEADER as regards to the application of eligibility and selection criteria and the project selection procedure.