TERMINATION AND END DATE OF THE DELEGATION AGREEMENT

The Commission may decide to terminate the Delegation Agreement in the following circumstances:

• if the partner or the Sub-delegatees undergo legal, financial, technical, organisational changes likely to substantially affect in a negative way the implementation and management of the Action or call into question the decision by which the EU contribution is awarded;

• if the partner or the Sub-delegatees fail to fulfil a substantial obligation incumbent on it under the terms of the Agreement;

• in the event of force majeure, or in the event of a suspension of the implementation of the Action, where the suspension lasts longer than one third of the implementation period of the Action or where the necessary modifications to the Agreement would call into question the decision of awarding the grant;

• if the partner or the Sub-delegatees are bankrupt, being wound up, or subject to any other similar proceedings;

• if the partner, the Sub-delegatees or any related person (i.e. any natural person which has the power to represent the partner or to take decisions on its behalf), have been found guilty of grave professional misconduct proven by any justified means;

• if the partner or the Sub-delegatees is not in compliance with its obligations relating to the payment of social security contributions or the payment of taxes in accordance with the applicable legal provisions

• if the partner, the Sub-delegatees, or any natural person that has the power of representation or to take decisions on its behalf, has intentionally or by negligence committed a substantial irregularity in performing the Agreement

• in the event of fraud, corruption or any other illegal activity performed by the partner or the Sub-delegatees to the detriment of the EU's financial interests;

• if the Commission has evidence that the partner, the Sub-delegatees or any natural person that has the power to represent it, are guilty of misrepresentation or submit false or incomplete statements to obtain the EU contribution or provide reports that do not reflect reality to obtain or keep the EU contribution without cause;

• if the partner or the Sub-delegatees committed any of the failings that, according to the Article 16.1. of the General Conditions, give rise to a suspension.

• where the Commission is not in the position to approve the Final Report presented by the partner as it does not comply with the standard reporting requirements

• if the partner fails to submit the required information as soon as possible, and at the latest within 30 calendar days following the receipt of the request and fails to take measures to address the situations of conflict of interests as described in the Article 7 of the General Conditions.

The grounds for termination also apply, mutatis mutandis, to any known actions committed by the Implementing Partners, contractors or staff of the partner to the extent that they are related to the implementation of the Action and have not been the subject of any appropriate remedial action by the partner.

PROCEDURE

The Commission shall notify the partner of its intention to terminate the Agreement, specifying the reasons thereof, and inviting the partner to submit observations within 15 calendar days from the receipt of the notification.

If the partner submits observations, the Commission shall notify of its decision on the termination.

If the Commission decides to terminate the Agreement despite the observations submitted by the partner, the termination shall take effect on the date of receipt of the termination decision’s notification.

If no observations have been submitted, the termination shall take effect 15 calendar days following the notification by the Commission of the intention to terminate.