Criteria for applying flat rates
Article 3
1. The flat rates of financial correction referred to in Article 105(3) of Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 shall be 2 %, 5 %, 10 %, 25 %, 50 % or 100 % of the Union contribution allocated to the relevant Union priorities, or to the relevant part of those priorities, within the operational programme of the Member State. 2. The range within which flat rates shall be applied in individual cases of non-compliance with the CFP rules is set out in the Annex. 3. Where in relation to the same Union priority several cases of non-compliance with the CFP rules are identified by the Commission within the same implementing act pursuant to Article 102 of Regulation (EU) No 508/2014, the flat rates shall not be cumulated, but the financial correction shall be set within the highest of the ranges applicable to those cases. 4. After a financial correction by the Commission for a certain case of non-compliance with the CFP rules has been implemented and the Member State concerned does not take the appropriate remedial action, the flat rate may be increased to the next higher level within the range applicable to that case of non-compliance with the CFP rules. 5. In addition to the cases for which it is explicitly set out in the Annex, a flat rate of 100 % of the Union contribution allocated to the relevant Union priorities, or to the relevant part of those priorities, within the operational programme of the Member State may be applied if: (a) the non-compliance with the CFP rules is so fundamental, frequent or widespread that it represents a complete failure of the system concerned and puts at risk the legality of actions of the Member State or the regularity of the financing of the common fisheries policy; or (b) there is evidence of deliberate negligence on side of the Member State with regard to remedying the non-compliance with the CFP rules.