Operating support
Article 16
1. A Member State may use up to 20 % of the amount allocated to its programme under the Fund to finance operating support for the public authorities responsible for carrying out the tasks and providing the services which constitute a public service for the Union. 2. When using operating support, a Member State shall comply with the Union acquis on security. 3. A Member State shall explain, in its programme and in the annual performance reports referred to in Article 30, how the use of operating support will contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the Fund. Before the approval of the Member State’s programme, the Commission shall assess the baseline situation in the Member States which have indicated their intention to use operating support, taking into account the information provided by those Member States, as well as any recommendations from quality control and evaluation mechanisms such as the Schengen evaluation and monitoring mechanism or other quality control and evaluation mechanisms, as applicable. 4. Operating support shall be concentrated on actions covered by expenditure as laid down in Annex VII. 5. To address unforeseen or new circumstances or to ensure the effective implementation of funding, the Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 32 to amend Annex VII in respect of expenditure that is eligible for operating support.