Closure of the programme
Article 40
1. Member States shall submit the following documents by 31 December 2023: (a) the information required for the last annual accounts, in accordance with Article 44(1); (b) a request for payment of the final balance; and (c) the final implementation report for the national programme as referred to in Article 54(1). 2. The payments made by the Responsible Authority from 16 October 2022 to 30 June 2023 shall be included in the last annual accounts. 3. After receiving the documents listed in paragraph 1, the Commission shall pay the final balance, on the basis of the financial plan in force, the last annual accounts and the corresponding clearance decision. 4. Depending on budget availability, the final balance shall be paid not later than three months after the date of clearance of accounts of the final financial year, or one month after the date of acceptance of the final implementation report, whichever date is later. The amounts still committed after the balance is paid shall, without prejudice to Article 52, be decommitted by the Commission within a period of six months.