Changes to beneficiaries' operations
Article 53
1. Member States may lay down rules regarding changes to the operations submitted by beneficiaries and approved by the competent authorities. Before the submission of the final payment claim, and in any case before the on-the-spot check prior to the final payment, a beneficiary should be allowed to submit changes to the initially approved operation provided that they do not undermine the objectives of the overall operation, are duly justified, communicated within the time limits set by the national authorities and approved by them. 2. Member States may allow that minor changes within the initially approved amount of eligible support can be implemented without prior approval, provided that they do not affect the eligibility of any part of the operation and its overall objectives. In particular, Member States may allow financial transfers between the actions covered by an operation already approved up to a maximum of 20 % of the amounts initially approved for each action, provided that the total amount of approved support for the operation is not exceeded. In their support programmes Member States may provide for other minor changes that can be implemented without prior approval.