Article 14Protection of the financial interests of the members

1.

The S2R Joint Undertaking shall grant Commission staff and other persons authorised by the S2R Joint Undertaking or the Commission, as well as 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 their audits.

2.

The European Anti-fraud Office (OLAF) may carry out investigations, including on-the-spot checks and inspections, in accordance with the provisions and procedures laid down in Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/9611 and in Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council12 with a view to establishing whether there has been fraud, corruption or any other illegal activity affecting the financial interests of the Union in connection with an agreement or decision or a contract funded under this Regulation.

3.

Without prejudice to paragraphs 1 and 2, contracts, agreements and decisions, resulting from the implementation of this Regulation, shall contain provisions expressly empowering the Commission, the S2R Joint Undertaking, the Court of Auditors and OLAF to conduct such audits and investigations, according to their respective competences.

4.

The S2R Joint Undertaking shall ensure that the financial interests of its members are adequately protected by carrying out or commissioning appropriate internal and external controls.

5.

The S2R Joint Undertaking shall accede to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 25 May 1999 between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the Commission of the European Communities concerning internal investigations by the European Anti-fraud Office (OLAF)13. The S2R Joint Undertaking shall adopt the necessary measures needed to facilitate internal investigations conducted by OLAF.