Approval of operational programmes and their amendments
Article 25
1. Prior to the approval of an operational programme under Article 33 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/891, Member States shall verify, by all the appropriate means, including through on-the-spot checks, the operational programme submitted for approval and the request for amendment, where applicable. Those checks shall in particular concern: (a) the accuracy of the information referred to in Article 4(1)(a), (b) and (e), which shall be included in the draft operational programme; (b) compliance of the programme with Article 33 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 as well as with the national strategy and the national framework; (c) the eligibility of the actions and the eligibility of the expenditure proposed; and (d) the consistency and technical quality of the programme, the soundness of the estimates and the aid plan, and the planning of its implementation. 2. The checks referred to in paragraph 1 shall verify whether: (a) targets are measurable and can be monitored and achieved through the proposed actions; and (b) the operations for which aid is requested are in compliance with the applicable national and Union laws in particular, State aid, rural development and promotion programmes, and obligatory standards established by national legislation or the national strategy.