annual financing agreementmeans the agreement setting out the financial allocation for the year in question on the basis of the appropriations entered in the Community budget and supplementing and amending, as appropriate, provisions laid down either in the multiannual financing agreement or in a prior annual financing agreement;
applicant countriesmeans the countries listed in Article 1(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1268/1999;
certifying Bodymeans the body which is operationally independent of the Sapard agency and establishes the attestation of the accounts, reports on the management and control systems and verifies the co-financing elements;
competent authoritymeans the body, in the applicant country,
exceptional natural disastermeans a natural disaster on an unusually large scale and causing intense damage and destruction.
financial yearmeans the calendar year 1 January to 31 December;
multiannual financing agreementmeans the agreement setting out the relevant provisions to be respected for Sapard co-financing;
national fundmeans the body appointed by the applicant country and placed under the responsibility of the national authorising officer bearing the full financial responsibility and liability for the funds, which acts as the competent authority.
Sapard agencymeans the body established by the applicant country and operating under its responsibility which discharges two functions: an implementing function and a paying function.
Sapard euro accountmeans the account opened by the national authorising officer under their responsibility in a financial or treasury institution bearing interest under normal commercial conditions to receive payments referred to in Article 8 and used exclusively for Sapard transactions and maintained in euro;