Lead beneficiaries’ obligations
Article 10
1. Following the start of programme implementation disruption and for as long as such a disruption persists, the lead beneficiary in a Member State shall not be required to: (a) assume responsibility for the non-implementation of the part of the project affected by the disruption; (b) ensure that the expenditure presented by the beneficiaries affected by the disruption has been incurred for the purpose of implementing the project and corresponds to activities set out in the contract and agreed between all beneficiaries; (c) verify that the expenditure presented by the beneficiaries affected by the disruption has been examined by an auditor or by a competent public officer. 2. Following the start of programme implementation disruption, the lead beneficiary in a Member State shall have the right to amend and adapt unilaterally the partnership agreement with the other beneficiaries. That right shall include the possibility to suspend the activities of a beneficiary from a partner country in full or in part, for as long as the programme implementation disruption persists. 3. The lead beneficiary in a Member State may propose to the managing authority the necessary changes to be made to the project including the redistribution of project activities among the remaining beneficiaries. 4. Following the start of programme implementation disruption, the lead beneficiary in a Member State may request the managing authority not to receive the financial contribution for the implementation of project activities in full or in part. The lead beneficiary in a Member State shall not be required to ensure that beneficiaries in partner countries receive the total amount of the grant as quickly as possible and in full. 5. In the situation referred to in Article 2(1), point (2)(b), the lead beneficiary in a Member State and the managing authority, in agreement with the audit authority, may verify and accept a payment request without a prior verification by an auditor or by a competent public officer of the expenditure declared by a beneficiary located in a partner country. 6. Paragraphs 1 to 5 of this Article shall also apply to lead beneficiaries in a partner country which is not in the situation referred to in Article 2(1), point (2)(a). In addition, and for the duration of the programme implementation disruption, such a lead beneficiary may also request the managing authority to identify another beneficiary as lead beneficiary and to make direct payments to other beneficiaries of the project concerned.