Article 2

1.

To achieve the objective laid down in the second subparagraph of Article 1, the Agency shall carry out the following tasks, within the limits of its powers and in accordance with the decisions taken by the Commission:

(a)

gathering, analysing and communicating information to the Commission on:

  1. (i)

    damage, the requirements for reconstruction and the return of refugees and displaced persons, and related initiatives taken by governments, local or regional authorities and the international community;

  2. (ii)

    the urgent requirements of the communities concerned, taking account of the various population displacements and the possibilities for the return of those displaced;

  3. (iii)

    the priority sectors and geographical areas requiring urgent assistance from the international community;

(b)

preparing draft programmes for the reconstruction of F1the F2 F3Serbia and Montenegro and of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the return of refugees and displaced persons in accordance with guidelines provided by the Commission;

(c)

implementing the Community assistance referred to in Article 1, wherever possible in cooperation with the local population and where necessary by drawing on the services of operators selected by tender. The Commission may accordingly make the Agency responsible for all operations required to implement the programmes referred to in (b), including:

  1. (i)

    drawing up terms of reference;

  2. (ii)

    preparing and evaluating invitations to tender;

  3. (iii)

    signing contracts;

  4. (iv)

    concluding financing agreements;

  5. (v)

    awarding contracts, in accordance with the provisions of this Regulation;

  6. (vi)

    evaluating draft programmes referred to in (b);

  7. (vii)

    checking implementation of the draft programmes referred to in (b);

  8. (viii)

    effecting payments.

2.

The Board of Management referred to in Article 4 shall be kept informed on the implementation of the tasks listed in paragraph 1. It shall where necessary adopt recommendations which shall be communicated to the Commission and brought to the attention of the CARDS Committee set up by Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 2666/2000.

3.

Without prejudice to any operations cofinanced in the framework of the responsibilities entrusted to the Agency under Article 1, the Agency may implement reconstruction programmes, programmes for the restoration of civil society and the rule of law and programmes providing aid for the return of refugees and displaced persons which the Member States and other donors entrust to it, inter alia under the arrangements for cooperation established by the Commission with the World Bank, international financial institutions and the European Investment Bank (EIB).

Such implementation shall be subject to the following conditions:

(a)

the financing must be provided in full by the other donors;

(b)

the financing must cover any associated administrative costs;

(c)

the duration thereof must be compatible with the deadline for winding up the Agency set in Article 14.

4.

The Commission may also entrust the Agency with following up (including monitoring, evaluation and auditing) decisions regarding support for the United Nations Interim Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) taken within the framework of Regulation (EC) No 1080/20005.

4.

La Commission peut également charger l'Agence du suivi, notamment le contrôle, l'évaluation et l'audit, des décisions concernant le soutien à la Mission intérimaire des Nations unies pour le Kosovo (MINUK), prises dans le cadre du règlement (CE) no 1080/20006.

F45.

The Commission may entrust the Agency with the implementation of assistance for encouraging the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community within the framework of Council Regulation (EC) No 389/2006 of 27 February 2006 establishing an instrument of financial support for encouraging the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community and amending Regulation (EC) No 2667/2000 on the European Agency for Reconstruction 7 .