Start of the EU Customs Authority’s activities
Article 265
The Commission shall be responsible for the establishment and initial operation of the EU Customs Authority until the EU Customs Authority has the operational capacity to implement its own budget. For that purpose: (a) until the Executive Director takes up his or her duties following his or her appointment by the Management Board in accordance with Article 241, the Commission may designate a Commission official to act as interim Executive Director and exercise the duties assigned to the Executive Director; (b) by way of derogation from Article 238(3), point (j), and until the adoption of a decision as referred to in Article 238(4), the interim Executive Director shall exercise the appointing authority powers; (c) the Commission may offer assistance to the EU Customs Authority, in particular by seconding Commission officials to carry out the activities of the EU Customs Authority under the responsibility of the interim Executive Director or the Executive Director; (d) the interim Executive Director may authorise all payments covered by appropriations entered in the EU Customs Authority’s budget and may conclude contracts, including staff contracts, following the adoption of the EU Customs Authority’s establishment plan; (e) by way of derogation from Article 237(1), until the Chairperson of the Management Board is elected, the interim Executive Director shall convene and chair the meetings of the Management Board, without the right to vote.