The Commission shall take appropriate measures ensuring that, when actions financed under this Regulation 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.

The Commission or its representatives and the Court of Auditors shall have the power of audit, on the basis of documents and on the spot, over all funding beneficiaries, contractors, subcontractors who have received Union funds under this Regulation.

Without prejudice to paragraphs 1, 2 and 3, delegation agreements with third countries, contracts and decisions awarding a financial contribution from the Fund resulting from the implementation of this Regulation shall contain provisions expressly empowering the Commission, the Court of Auditors and OLAF to conduct such audits and investigations, in accordance with their respective competences.