1. The European Commission and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) shall be authorised to carry out administrative investigations, including on-the-spot checks and inspections, on the territory of Serbia. These investigations shall be carried out in accordance with the terms and conditions established by applicable acts of one or more Union institutions.

2. Serbia‘s competent authorities shall inform the European Commission or OLAF within reasonable time of any fact or suspicion which has come to their notice relating to an irregularity, fraud or other illegal activity affecting the financial interests of the Union.

3. On-the-spot checks and inspections may be carried out on the premises of any natural person residing in or legal entity established in Serbia and receiving Union funds, as well as of any third party involved in the implementation of Union funds residing or established in Serbia.

4. On-the-spot checks and inspections shall be prepared and conducted by the Commission or OLAF in close collaboration with the competent Serbia’s authority designated by the Serbia government. The designated authority shall be notified a reasonable time in advance of the object, purpose and legal basis of the checks and inspections, so that it can provide assistance. To that end, the officials of the competent Serbia’s authorities may participate in the on-the-spot checks and inspections.

5. Upon request by Serbia’s authorities, the on-the-spot checks and inspections may be carried out jointly with the Commission or OLAF.

6. Commission agents and OLAF staff shall have access to all the information and documentation, including computer data, on the operations concerned, which are required for the proper conduct of the on-the-spot checks and inspections. They may, in particular, copy relevant documents.

7. Where the person, entity or another third party resists an on-the-spot check or inspection, Serbia‘s authorities, acting in accordance with national rules and regulations, shall assist the Commission or OLAF, to allow them to fulfil their duty in carrying out an on-the-spot check or inspection. This assistance shall include taking the appropriate precautionary measures under national law, in particular in order to safeguard evidence.

8. The Commission or OLAF shall inform Serbia’s authorities of the result of such checks and inspections. In particular, the Commission or OLAF shall report as soon as possible to the competent Serbia’s authority any fact or suspicion relating to an irregularity which has come to their notice in the course of the on-the-spot check or inspection.

9. Without prejudice to application of Serbia criminal law, the Commission may impose administrative measures and penalties on legal or natural persons of Serbia participating in the implementation of a programme or activity in accordance with European Union legislation.

10. For the purposes of proper implementation of this Article, the Commission or OLAF and Serbia competent authorities shall regularly exchange information and, at the request of one of the parties to this Agreement, consult each other.

11. In order to facilitate effective cooperation and exchange of information with OLAF, Serbia shall designate a contact point.

12. Information exchanged between the Commission or OLAF and Serbia’s competent authorities shall take place having due regard to the confidentiality requirements. Personal data included in the exchange of information shall be protected in accordance with applicable rules.

13. Serbia’s authorities shall cooperate with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office to allow it to fulfil its duty to investigate, prosecute and bring to judgment the perpetrators of, and accomplices to, criminal offences affecting the financial interests of the European Union in accordance with the applicable legislation.