The Commission shall take appropriate measures ensuring that, when actions financed under this Decision are implemented, the financial interests of the Union are protected by the application of preventive measures against fraud, corruption and any other illegal activities, by effective checks and, if irregularities are detected, by the recovery of the amounts wrongly paid and, where appropriate, by effective, proportionate and dissuasive administrative and financial penalties.

Contracts, grant agreements and grant decisions resulting from the implementation of this Decision shall contain provisions expressly empowering the Commission, AALA, the Court of Auditors and OLAF to conduct audits and investigations, in accordance with their respective competences.

The AALA shall grant the Commission staff and other persons authorised by the Commission, as well as by the Court of Auditors, access to its sites and premises and to all the information, including information in electronic format, needed in order to conduct the audits referred to in paragraph 3.

In implementing the AAL Programme, the Participating States shall take the legislative, regulatory, administrative or other measures necessary for protecting the Union's financial interests, in particular, to ensure the full recovery of any amounts due to the Union in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 and Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012.