Preparation, assessment, approval and amendment of cross-border cooperation programmes
Article 31
1. Thematic priorities for each cross-border cooperation programme shall be agreed between the participating countries for each border or group of borders based on the thematic priorities as defined in Annex III to Regulation (EU) No 231/2014. 2. The Commission shall assess the consistency of cross-border cooperation programmes with this Regulation, their effective contribution to the selected thematic priorities in Annex III to Regulation (EU) No 231/2014, and also, as far as participating Member States are concerned, the relevant Partnership Agreement. 3. The Commission shall make observations within three months of the date of submission of the cross-border cooperation programme. The participating countries shall provide to the Commission all necessary additional information and, where appropriate, revise the proposed cross-border cooperation programme. 4. When approving each cross-border cooperation programme following its formal submission, the Commission has to ensure that any of its observations have been adequately taken into account. 5. Requests for amendment of cross-border cooperation programmes submitted by the participating countries shall be duly substantiated and shall in particular set out the expected impact of the changes to the cross-border cooperation programme on achieving its objectives. These requests shall be accompanied by the revised programme. Paragraphs 2 and 3 shall apply to amendments of cross-border cooperation programmes.