REGULATION (EU) 2019/942 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

of 5 June 2019

establishing a European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators

(recast)

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 194(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (2),

Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (3),

Whereas:

(1) Regulation (EC) No 713/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4), which established the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), has been substantially amended (5). Since further amendments are to be made, that Regulation should be recast in the interest of clarity.

(2) The creation of ACER has manifestly improved coordination between regulatory authorities on cross-border issues. Since its creation, ACER has received new important tasks concerning the monitoring of wholesale markets under Regulation (EU) No 1227/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (6) and concerning the fields of cross-border energy infrastructure under Regulation (EU) No 347/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (7) and security of gas supply under Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 of the European Parliament and of the Council (8).

(3) It is anticipated that the need for coordination of national regulatory actions will increase further in the coming years. The Union's energy system is in the middle of its most profound change in decades. More market integration and the change towards more variable electricity production require increased efforts to coordinate national energy policies with neighbours and increased efforts to use the opportunities of cross-border electricity trade.

(4) Experience with the implementation of the internal market has shown that uncoordinated national action can lead to severe problems for the market, in particular in closely interconnected areas where the decisions of Member States often have a tangible impact on their neighbours. To achieve the positive effects of the internal electricity market for consumer welfare, the security of supply and decarbonisation, Member States, in particular their independent regulatory authorities, are required to cooperate on regulatory measures which have cross-border effects.

(5) Fragmented national state interventions in energy markets constitute an increasing risk to the proper functioning of cross-border electricity markets. ACER should therefore be given a role in the development of a coordinated European resource adequacy assessment, in close cooperation with the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO for Electricity), in order to avoid the problems of fragmented national assessments which follow different uncoordinated methods and do not sufficiently take into account the situation in neighbouring countries. ACER should also supervise the technical parameters developed by the ENTSO for Electricity for the efficient participation of cross-border capacities and other technical features of capacity mechanisms.

(6) Despite significant progress in integrating and interconnecting the internal electricity market, some Member States or regions remain isolated or not sufficiently interconnected, in particular insular Member States and Member States located on the periphery of the Union. In its work, ACER should take account of the specific situation of those Member States or regions as appropriate.

(7) The security of the electricity supply requires a coordinated approach to preparing for unexpected supply crises. ACER should therefore coordinate national actions related to risk preparedness, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/941 of the European Parliament and of the Council (9).

(8) Because of the close interconnection of the Union electricity grid and the increasing need to cooperate with neighbouring countries to maintain grid stability and integrate large volumes of renewable energy, regional coordination centres will play an important role for the coordination of transmission system operators. ACER should guarantee regulatory oversight of the regional coordination centres where necessary.

(9) As large parts of new electricity generation capacity will be connected at local level, distribution system operators are to play an important role when it comes to operating the Union electricity system in a flexible and efficient manner.

(10) Member States should cooperate closely, eliminating obstacles to cross-border exchanges of electricity and natural gas with a view to achieving the objectives of the Union energy policy. ACER was established to fill the regulatory gap at Union level and to contribute towards the effective functioning of the internal markets for electricity and natural gas. ACER enables regulatory authorities to enhance their cooperation at Union level and participate, on a mutual basis, in the exercise of Union-related functions.

(11) ACER should ensure that regulatory functions performed by the regulatory authorities in accordance with Directive (EU) 2019/944 of the European Parliament and of the Council (10) and Directive 2009/73/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (11) are properly coordinated and, where necessary, completed at Union level. To that end, it is necessary to guarantee the independence of ACER from electricity and gas producers, transmission system operators and distribution system operators, whether public or private, and consumers and to ensure the conformity of its actions with Union law, its technical and regulatory capacities and its transparency, amenability to democratic control, including accountability to the European Parliament, and efficiency.

(12) ACER should monitor regional cooperation between transmission system operators in the electricity and gas sectors as well as the execution of the tasks of the ENTSO for Electricity, and the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSO for Gas). ACER should also monitor the implementation of the tasks of other entities with regulated functions of Union-wide dimension, such as energy exchanges. ACER's involvement is essential in order to ensure that the cooperation between transmission system operators and the operation of other entities with Union-wide functions proceed in an efficient and transparent way for the benefit of the internal markets for electricity and natural gas.

(13) The regulatory authorities should coordinate among themselves when carrying out their tasks to ensure that the ENTSO for Electricity, the European Entity for Distribution System Operators (the ‘EU DSO entity’), and the regional coordination centres comply with their obligations under the regulatory framework of the internal energy market and with ACER's decisions. With the expansion of the operational responsibilities of the ENTSO for Electricity, the EU DSO entity and the regional coordination centres, it is necessary to enhance the oversight of such entities operating at regional or Union-wide level. The procedure established in this Regulation ensures that ACER supports the regulatory authorities when performing those functions as referred to in Directive (EU) 2019/944.

(14) In order to ensure that ACER has the information it needs to carry out its tasks, ACER should be able to request and to receive that information from the regulatory authorities, the ENTSO for Electricity, the ENTSO for Gas, the regional coordination centres, the EU DSO entity, the transmission system operators and the nominated electricity market operators.

(15) ACER should monitor, in cooperation with the Commission, the Member States and relevant national authorities, the internal markets for electricity and natural gas and inform the European Parliament, the Commission and the national authorities of its findings where appropriate. ACER's monitoring tasks should not duplicate or hamper monitoring by the Commission or by national authorities, in particular national competition authorities.

(16) ACER provides an integrated framework which enables the regulatory authorities to participate and cooperate. That framework facilitates the uniform application of the legislation on the internal markets for electricity and natural gas throughout the Union. As regards situations concerning more than one Member State, ACER has been granted the power to adopt individual decisions. That power should, under clearly specified conditions, cover technical and regulatory issues which require regional coordination, in particular those concerning the implementation of network codes and guidelines, cooperation within regional coordination centres, the regulatory decisions necessary to effectively monitor wholesale energy market integrity and transparency, decisions concerning electricity and natural gas infrastructure that connects or that might connect at least two Member States and, as a last resort, exemptions from the internal market rules for new electricity interconnectors and new gas infrastructure located in more than one Member State.

(17) Revision of the network codes and guidelines covers amendments which are necessary to take into account the evolution of the market without substantially changing those network codes and guidelines or creating new competences of ACER.

(18) ACER has an important role in developing framework guidelines which are non-binding by nature. Network codes should be in line with those framework guidelines. It is also considered to be appropriate for ACER, and consistent with its purpose, to have a role in reviewing and amending draft network codes to ensure that they are in line with the framework guidelines and provide for the necessary degree of harmonisation, before it submits them to the Commission for adoption.

(19) With the adoption of a set of network codes and guidelines which provide for the stepwise implementation and further refinement of common regional and Union-wide rules, ACER's role with regard to monitoring and contributing to the implementation of the network codes and guidelines has increased. The effective monitoring of network codes and guidelines is a key function of ACER and is crucial to the implementation of internal market rules.

(20) During the implementation of network codes and guidelines, it has emerged that it would be useful to streamline the procedures for the regulatory approval of regional or Union-wide terms and conditions or methodologies that are developed under the network codes and guidelines by submitting them directly to ACER to allow regulatory authorities represented in the Board of Regulators to decide on such terms and conditions or methodologies.

(21) Since the stepwise harmonisation of the Union energy markets regularly involves finding regional solutions as an interim step, and many terms and conditions and methodologies need to be approved by a limited number of regulatory authorities for a specific region, it is appropriate to reflect the regional dimension of the internal market in this Regulation and to provide for appropriate governance mechanisms. Decisions on proposals for joint regional terms and conditions or methodologies should therefore be taken by the competent regulatory authorities of the region concerned, unless those decisions have a tangible impact on the internal energy market.

(22) Since ACER has an overview of the regulatory authorities, it should have an advisory role with respect to the Commission, other Union institutions and regulatory authorities as regards the issues relating to the purpose for which it was established. It should also be required to inform the Commission where it finds that the cooperation between transmission system operators does not produce the necessary results or that a regulatory authority whose decision infringes the network codes and guidelines has not implemented an opinion, recommendation or decision of ACER appropriately.

(23) ACER should also be able to make recommendations to assist regulatory authorities and market participants in sharing good practices.

(24) The ENTSO for Electricity, the ENTSO for Gas, the EU DSO entity, transmission system operators, the regional coordination centres and the nominated electricity market operators should give the utmost consideration to the opinions and recommendations of ACER that are addressed to them pursuant to this Regulation.

(25) ACER should consult interested parties, where appropriate, and provide them with a reasonable opportunity to comment on proposed measures, such as network codes and rules.

(26) ACER should contribute to the implementation of the guidelines on trans-European energy networks as laid down in Regulation (EU) No 347/2013, in particular when providing its opinion on the non-binding Union-wide 10-year network development plans (Union-wide network development plans).

(27) ACER should contribute to the efforts of enhancing energy security.

(28) ACER's activities should be consistent with the objectives and targets of the Energy Union which has five closely related and mutually reinforcing dimensions, including decarbonisation, as outlined in Article 1 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council (12).

(29) In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, ACER should adopt individual decisions only in clearly defined circumstances, on issues that are strictly related to the purposes for which ACER was established.

(30) In order to ensure that ACER's framework is efficient and coherent with other decentralised agencies, the rules governing ACER should be aligned with the Common Approach agreed between the European Parliament, the Council of the EU and the European Commission on decentralised agencies (13) (Common Approach). However, to the extent necessary, ACER's structure should be adapted to meet the specific needs of energy regulation. In particular, the specific role of the regulatory authorities needs to be taken fully into account and their independence guaranteed.

(31) Additional changes to this Regulation may be envisaged in the future in order to bring the Regulation fully in line with the Common Approach. Based on the current needs of energy regulation, deviations from the Common Approach are necessary. The Commission should carry out an evaluation to assess ACER's performance in relation to ACER's objectives, mandate and tasks and, following that evaluation, the Commission should be able to propose amendments to this Regulation.

(32) The Administrative Board should have the necessary powers to establish the budget, check its implementation, draw up internal rules, adopt financial regulations and appoint a Director. A rotation system should be used for the renewal of the members of the Administrative Board who are appointed by the Council so as to ensure a balanced participation of Member States over time. The Administrative Board should act independently and objectively in the public interest and should not seek or follow political instructions.

(33) ACER should have the necessary powers to perform its regulatory functions in an efficient, transparent, reasoned and, above all, independent manner. ACER's independence from electricity and gas producers and from transmission system operators and distribution system operators as well as other private and corporate interests is not only a key principle of good governance but also a fundamental condition to ensure market confidence. Without prejudice to its members' acting on behalf of their respective national authorities, the Board of Regulators should therefore act independently from any market interest, should avoid conflicts of interests and should not seek or follow instructions or accept recommendations from a government of a Member State, from Union institutions or another public or private entity or person. The decisions of the Board of Regulators should, at the same time, comply with Union law concerning energy, such as the internal energy market, the environment and competition. The Board of Regulators should report its opinions, recommendations and decisions to the Union institutions.

(34) Where ACER has decision-making powers, interested parties should, for reasons of procedural economy, be granted a right of appeal to a Board of Appeal, which should be part of ACER, but independent from its administrative and regulatory structure. In order to guarantee its functioning and full independence, the Board of Appeal should have a separate budget line in the budget of ACER. In the interest of continuity, the appointment or renewal of the members of the Board of Appeal should allow for the partial replacement of the members of the Board of Appeal. The decisions of the Board of Appeal are subject to appeal before the Court of Justice of the European Union (the Court of Justice).

(35) ACER should exercise its decision-making powers in line with the principles of fair, transparent and reasonable decision-making. ACER's procedural rules should be laid down in its rules of procedures.

(36) The Director should be responsible for drafting and adopting documents containing opinions, recommendations and decisions. Certain opinions, recommendations and decisions referred to in point (a) of Article 22(5) and Article 24(2) should require the favourable opinion of the Board of Regulators before they are adopted. The Board of Regulators should be able to provide opinions on, and, where appropriate, comments on and amendments to the Director's text proposals, which the Director should take into account. Where the Director deviates from or rejects the comments and amendments submitted by the Board of Regulators, the Director should provide a duly justified written reasoning to facilitate a constructive dialogue. If the Board of Regulators does not give a favourable opinion on a re-submitted text, the Director should have the possibility of revising the text further in line with the amendments and comments proposed by the Board of Regulators, in order to obtain their favourable opinion. The Director should have the possibility of withdrawing submitted draft opinions, recommendations and decisions where the Director disagrees with the amendments submitted by the Board of Regulators and issuing a new text following certain procedures referred to in point (a) of Article 22(5) and Article 24(2). The Director should have the possibility of seeking the favourable opinion of the Board of Regulators on a new or revised draft text at any stage of the procedure.

(37) ACER should be properly resourced to carry out its tasks. ACER should be mainly financed from the general budget of the Union. Fees improve ACER's funding and should cover its costs with regard to services provided to market participants or entities acting on their behalf enabling them to report data pursuant to Article 8 of Regulation (EU) No 1227/2011 in an efficient, effective and safe manner. The resources currently pooled by regulatory authorities for their cooperation at Union level should continue to be available to ACER. The Union budgetary procedure should remain applicable as far as any subsidies chargeable to the general budget of the Union are concerned. Moreover, the auditing of accounts should be undertaken by an independent external auditor in accordance with Article 107 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1271/2013 (14).

(38) ACER's budget should be assessed by the budgetary authority on an ongoing basis, with reference to ACER's workload, to ACER's performance and to ACER's objectives of working towards an internal energy market and contributing to energy security for the benefit of consumers in the Union. The budgetary authority should ensure that the best standards of efficiency are met.

(39) The Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union (the ‘Translation Centre’) should provide translation for the Union Agencies. If ACER experiences particular difficulties with the services of the Translation Centre, ACER should have the possibility of invoking the recourse mechanism established in Council Regulation (EC) No 2965/94 (15), which could, ultimately, result in recourse to other service providers under the auspices of the Translation Centre.

(40) ACER should have highly professional staff. In particular, it should benefit from the competence and experience of staff seconded by the regulatory authorities, the Commission and the Member States. The Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Communities (‘the Staff Regulations’) and the Conditions of employment of other servants of the European Communities (‘the Conditions of Employment’), laid down in Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom, ECSC) No 259/68 (16) and the rules adopted jointly by the Union institutions for the purpose of applying those regulations should apply to ACER's staff. The Administrative Board, in agreement with the Commission, should adopt appropriate implementing rules.

(41) It should be possible for the regulatory work of the Director and the Board of Regulators pursuant to this Regulation to be supported by working groups.

(42) ACER should apply the general rules regarding public access to documents held by Union bodies. The Administrative Board should establish the practical measures to protect commercially sensitive data and personal data.

(43) Through the cooperation of regulatory authorities within ACER, it is evident that majority decisions are a key pre-requisite to achieving progress on matters concerning the internal energy market which have significant economic effects in various Member States. Regulatory authorities should therefore continue to vote on the basis of a two-thirds majority within the Board of Regulators. ACER should be accountable to the European Parliament, to the Council and to the Commission, where appropriate.

(44) Countries which are not members of the Union should be able to participate in ACER's work in accordance with appropriate agreements to be concluded by the Union.

(45) Since the objectives of this Regulation, namely the cooperation of regulatory authorities at Union level and their participation in the exercise of Union-related functions, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU). In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives.

(46) ACER's seat is situated in Ljubljana, as provided by Decision 2009/913/EU (17). ACER's seat is the centre of its activities and its statutory functions.

(47) ACER's host Member State should provide the best possible conditions to ensure the smooth and efficient functioning of ACER, including multilingual, European-oriented schooling and appropriate transport connections. The Seat Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and ACER covering those requirements together with its implementing arrangements, was concluded on 26 November 2010 and entered into force on 10 January 2011,

HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Chapter I

Objectives and tasks

Article 1 Establishment and objectives 1. This Regulation establishes a European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER). 2. The purpose of ACER shall be to assist the regulatory authorities referred to in Article 57 of Directive (EU) 2019/944 and Article 39 of Directive 2009/73/EC in exercising, at Union level, the regulatory tasks performed in the Member States and, where necessary, to coordinate their action and to mediate and settle disagreements between them in accordance with Article 6(10) of this Regulation. ACER shall also contribute to the establishment of high-quality common regulatory and supervisory practices, thus contributing to the consistent, efficient and effective application of Union law in order to achieve the Union's climate and energy goals. 3. When carrying out its tasks, ACER shall act independently, objectively, and in the interest of the Union. ACER shall take autonomous decisions, independently of private and corporate interests.

Article 2 Type of acts of ACER ACER shall: (a) issue opinions and recommendations addressed to transmission system operators, the ENTSO for Electricity, the ENTSO for Gas, the EU DSO Entity, regional coordination centres and nominated electricity market operators; (b) issue opinions and recommendations addressed to regulatory authorities; (c) issue opinions and recommendations addressed to the European Parliament, the Council, or the Commission; (d) issue individual decisions on the provision of information in accordance with Article 3(2), point (b) of Article 7(2) and point (c) of Article 8; on approving the methodologies, terms and conditions in accordance with Article 4(4), Article 5(2), (3) and (4); on bidding zones reviews as referred to in Article 5(7); on technical issues as referred to in Article 6(1); on arbitration between regulators in accordance with Article 6(10); related to regional coordination centres as referred to in point (a) of Article 7(2); on approving and amending methodologies and calculations and technical specifications as referred to in Article 9(1); on approving and amending methodologies as referred to in Article 9(3); on exemptions as referred to in Article 10; on infrastructure as referred to in point (d) of Article 11; and on matters related to wholesale market integrity and transparency pursuant to Article 12. (e) submit non-binding framework guidelines to the Commission in accordance with Article 59 of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 of the European Parliament and of the Council (18) and Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 715/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (19).

Article 3 General tasks 1. ACER may, upon a request of the European Parliament, the Council or the Commission, or on its own initiative, provide an opinion or a recommendation to the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on any of the issues relating to the purpose for which it has been established. 2. At ACER's request, the regulatory authorities, the ENTSO for Electricity, the ENTSO for Gas, the regional coordination centres, the EU DSO entity, the transmission system operators and the nominated electricity market operators shall provide to ACER the information necessary for the purpose of carrying out ACER's tasks under this Regulation, unless ACER has already requested and received such information. For the purpose of information requests as referred to in the first subparagraph, ACER shall have the power to issue decisions. In its decisions, ACER shall specify the purpose of its request, shall make a reference to the legal basis under which the information is requested, and shall state a time limit within which the information is to be provided. That time limit shall be proportionate to the request. ACER shall use confidential information received pursuant to this Regulation only for the purpose of carrying out the tasks assigned to it in this Regulation. ACER shall ensure the appropriate data protection of the information pursuant to Article 41.

Article 4 Tasks of ACER as regards the cooperation of transmission system operators and distribution system operators 1. ACER shall provide an opinion to the Commission on the draft statutes, list of members and draft rules of procedure of the ENTSO for Electricity in accordance with Article 29(2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 and on those of the ENTSO for Gas in accordance with Article 5(2) of Regulation (EC) No 715/2009 and on those of the EU DSO entity in accordance with Article 53(3) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943. 2. ACER shall monitor the execution of the tasks of the ENTSO for Electricity in accordance with Article 32 of Regulation (EU) 2019/943, of the ENTSO for Gas in accordance with Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 715/2009 and of the EU DSO entity as set out in Article 55 of Regulation (EU) 2019/943. 3. ACER may provide an opinion: (a) to the ENTSO for Electricity in accordance with point (a) of Article 30(1) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 and to the ENTSO for Gas in accordance with Article 8(2) of Regulation (EC) No 715/2009 on the network codes; (b) to the ENTSO for Electricity in accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 32(2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943, and to the ENTSO for Gas in accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 9(2) of Regulation (EC) No 715/2009 on the draft annual work programme, on the draft Union-wide network development plan and other relevant documents referred to in Article 30(1) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 and Article 8(3) of Regulation (EC) No 715/2009, taking into account the objectives of non-discrimination, effective competition and the efficient and secure functioning of the internal markets for electricity and natural gas; (c) to the EU DSO entity on the draft annual work programme and other relevant documents referred to in Article 55(2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943, taking into account the objectives of non-discrimination, effective competition and the efficient and secure functioning of the internal market for electricity. 4. ACER, where appropriate, after requesting updates to the drafts submitted by transmission system operators, shall approve the methodology regarding the use of revenues from congestion income pursuant to Article 19(4) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943. 5. ACER shall, based on matters of fact, provide a duly reasoned opinion as well as recommendations to the ENTSO for Electricity, the ENTSO for Gas, the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission, where it considers that the draft annual work programme or the draft Union-wide network development plan submitted to it in accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 32(2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 and the second subparagraph of Article 9(2) of Regulation (EC) No 715/2009 do not contribute to non-discrimination, effective competition and the efficient functioning of the market or a sufficient level of cross-border interconnection open to third-party access, or do not comply with the relevant provisions of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 and Directive (EU) 2019/944 or Regulation (EC) No 715/2009 and Directive 2009/73/EC. 6. The relevant regulatory authorities shall coordinate in order to jointly identify whether there is non-compliance of the EU-DSO entity, the ENTSO for Electricity or regional coordination centres with their obligations under Union law, and shall take appropriate action in accordance with point (c) of Article 59(1) and point (f) of Article 62(1) of Directive (EU) 2019/944. At the request of one or more regulatory authorities or at its own initiative, ACER shall issue a reasoned opinion as well as a recommendation to the ENTSO for Electricity, the EU DSO entity or the regional coordination centres with regard to compliance with their obligations. 7. Where a reasoned opinion of ACER identifies a case of potential non-compliance of the ENTSO for Electricity, the EU DSO entity or a regional coordination centre with their respective obligations, the regulatory authorities concerned shall unanimously take coordinated decisions establishing whether there is non-compliance with the relevant obligations and, where applicable, determining the measures to be taken by the ENTSO for Electricity, the EU DSO entity or the regional coordination centre to remedy that non-compliance. Where the regulatory authorities fail to take such coordinated decisions unanimously within four months of the date of receipt of ACER's reasoned opinion, the matter shall be referred to ACER for a decision pursuant to Article 6(10). 8. Where the non-compliance by the ENTSO for Electricity, the EU DSO entity or a regional coordination centre that was identified pursuant to paragraph 6 or 7 of this Article has not been remedied within three months, or where the regulatory authority in the Member State in which the entity has its seat has not taken action to ensure compliance, ACER shall issue a recommendation to the regulatory authority to take action in accordance with point (c) of Article 59(1) and point (f) of Article 62(1) of Directive (EU) 2019/944, in order to ensure that the ENTSO for Electricity, the EU DSO entity or the regional coordination centre comply with their obligations, and shall inform the Commission.

Article 5 Tasks of ACER as regards the development and implementation of network codes and guidelines 1. ACER shall participate in the development of network codes in accordance with Article 59 of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 and Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 715/2009 and of guidelines in accordance with Article 61(6) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 It shall in particular: (a) submit non-binding framework guidelines to the Commission where it is requested to do so under Article 59(4) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 or Article 6(2) of Regulation (EC) No 715/2009. ACER shall review the framework guidelines and re-submit them to the Commission where requested to do so under Article 59(7) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 or Article 6(4) of Regulation (EC) No 715/2009; (b) provide a reasoned opinion to the ENTSO for Gas on the network code in accordance with Article 6(7) of Regulation (EC) No 715/2009; (c) revise the network code in accordance with Article 59(11) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 and Article 6(9) of Regulation (EC) No 715/2009. In its revision, ACER shall take account of the views provided by the parties involved during the drafting of that revised network code led by the ENTSO for Electricity, the ENTSO for Gas or the EU DSO entity, and shall consult the relevant stakeholders on the version to be submitted to the Commission. For this purpose, ACER may use the committee established under the network codes where appropriate. ACER shall report to the Commission on the outcome of the consultations. Subsequently, ACER shall submit the revised network code to the Commission in accordance with Article 59(11) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 and Article 6(9) of Regulation (EC) No 715/2009. Where the ENTSO for Electricity, the ENTSO for Gas or the EU DSO entity have failed to develop a network code, ACER shall prepare and submit a draft network code to the Commission where it is requested to do so under Article 59(12) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 or Article 6(10) of Regulation (EC) No 715/2009; (d) provide a duly reasoned opinion to the Commission, in accordance with Article 32(1) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 or Article 9(1) of Regulation (EC) No 715/2009, where the ENTSO for Electricity, the ENTSO for Gas or the EU DSO entity has failed to implement a network code elaborated under point (a) of Article 30(1) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 or Article 8(2) of Regulation (EC) No 715/2009 or a network code which has been established in accordance with Article 59(3) to (12) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 and Article 6(1) to (10) of Regulation (EC) No 715/2009 but which has not been adopted by the Commission under Article 59(13) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 and under Article 6(11) of Regulation (EC) No 715/2009. (e) monitor and analyse the implementation of the network codes adopted by the Commission in accordance with Article 59 of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 and Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 715/2009 and the guidelines adopted in accordance with Article 61 of Regulation (EU) 2019/943, and their effect on the harmonisation of applicable rules aimed at facilitating market integration as well as on non-discrimination, effective competition and the efficient functioning of the market, and report to the Commission. 2. Where one of the following legal acts provides for the development of proposals for common terms and conditions or methodologies for the implementation of network codes and guidelines which require the approval of all regulatory authorities, those proposals for common terms and conditions or methodologies shall be submitted to ACER for revision and approval: (a) a legislative act of the Union adopted under the ordinary legislative procedure; (b) network codes and guidelines adopted before 4 July 2019 and subsequent revisions of those network codes and guidelines; or (c) network codes and guidelines adopted as implementing acts pursuant to Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (20). 3. Where one of the following legal acts provides for the development of proposals for terms and conditions or methodologies for the implementation of network codes and guidelines which require the approval of all the regulatory authorities of the region concerned, those regulatory authorities shall agree unanimously on the common terms and conditions or methodologies to be approved by each of those regulatory authorities: (a) a legislative act of the Union adopted under the ordinary legislative procedure; (b) network codes and guidelines that were adopted before 4 July 2019 and subsequent revisions of those network codes and guidelines; or (c) network codes and guidelines adopted as implementing acts pursuant to Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011. The proposals referred to in the first subparagraph shall be notified to ACER within one week of their submission to those regulatory authorities. The regulatory authorities may refer the proposals to ACER for approval pursuant to point (b) of the second subparagraph of Article 6(10) and shall do so pursuant to point (a) of the second subparagraph of Article 6(10) where there is no unanimous agreement as referred to in the first subparagraph. The Director or the Board of Regulators, acting on its own initiative or on a proposal from one or more of its members, may require the regulatory authorities of the region concerned to refer the proposal to ACER for approval. Such a request shall be limited to cases in which the regionally agreed proposal would have a tangible impact on the internal energy market or on security of supply beyond the region. 4. Without prejudice to paragraphs 2 and 3, ACER shall be competent to take a decision pursuant to Article 6(10) where the competent regulatory authorities fail to agree on terms and conditions or methodologies for the implementation of new network codes and guidelines adopted after 4 July 2019 as delegated acts, where those terms and conditions or methodologies require the approval of all the regulatory authorities or of all the regulatory authorities of the region concerned. 5. By 31 October 2023, and every three years thereafter, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and to the Council on ACER's involvement in the development and adoption of terms and conditions or methodologies for the implementation of network codes and guidelines adopted as delegated acts after 4 July 2019. Where appropriate, the report shall be accompanied by a legislative proposal to transfer or modify the necessary powers to ACER. 6. Before approving the terms and conditions or methodologies referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3, the regulatory authorities, or, where competent, ACER, shall revise them where necessary, after consulting the ENTSO for Electricity, the ENTSO for Gas or the EU DSO entity, in order to ensure that they are in line with the purpose of the network code or guideline and contribute to market integration, non-discrimination, effective competition and the proper functioning of the market. ACER shall take a decision on the approval within the period specified in the relevant network codes and guidelines. That period shall begin on the day following that on which the proposal was referred to ACER. 7. ACER shall carry out its tasks as regards the bidding zone review pursuant to Article 14(5) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943. 8. ACER shall monitor the regional cooperation of transmission system operators referred to in Article 34 of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 and Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 715/2009, and shall take into account the outcome of that cooperation when formulating its opinions, recommendations and decisions.

Article 6 Tasks of ACER as regards the regulatory authorities 1. ACER shall adopt individual decisions on technical issues where those decisions are provided for in Regulation (EU) 2019/943, Regulation (EC) No 715/2009, Directive (EU) 2019/944 or Directive 2009/73/EC. 2. ACER may, in accordance with its work programme, at the request of the Commission or on its own initiative, make recommendations to assist regulatory authorities and market participants in sharing good practices. 3. By 5 July 2022, and every four years thereafter the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the independence of regulatory authorities pursuant to Article 57(7) of Directive (EU) 2019/944. 4. ACER shall provide a framework within which the regulatory authorities can cooperate in order to ensure efficient decision-making on issues with cross-border relevance. It shall promote cooperation between the regulatory authorities and between regulatory authorities at regional and Union level and shall take into account the outcome of such cooperation when formulating its opinions, recommendations and decisions. Where ACER considers that binding rules on such cooperation are required, it shall make the appropriate recommendations to the Commission. 5. ACER shall provide a factual opinion at the request of one or more regulatory authorities or of the Commission, on whether a decision taken by a regulatory authority complies with the network codes and guidelines referred to in Regulation (EU) 2019/943, Regulation (EC) No 715/2009, Directive (EU) 2019/944 or Directive 2009/73/EC or with other relevant provisions of those directives or regulations. 6. Where a regulatory authority does not comply with the opinion of ACER referred to in paragraph 5 within four months of the date of receipt, ACER shall inform the Commission and the Member State concerned accordingly. 7. Where, in a specific case, a regulatory authority encounters difficulties with the application of the network codes and guidelines referred to in Regulation (EU) 2019/943, Regulation (EC) No 715/2009, Directive (EU) 2019/944 or Directive 2009/73/EC it may request ACER to provide an opinion. ACER shall deliver its opinion, after consulting the Commission, within three months of the date of receipt of such a request. 8. Upon the request of a regulatory authority, ACER may provide operational assistance to that regulatory authority regarding investigations pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 1227/2011. 9. ACER shall submit opinions to the relevant regulatory authority and to the Commission pursuant to Article 16(3) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943. 10. ACER shall be competent to adopt individual decisions on regulatory issues having effects on cross-border trade or cross-border system security which require a joint decision by at least two regulatory authorities, where such competences have been conferred on the regulatory authorities under one of the following legal acts: (a) a legislative act of the Union adopted under the ordinary legislative procedure; (b) network codes and guidelines adopted before 4 July 2019 and subsequent revisions of those network codes and guidelines; or (c) network codes and guidelines adopted as implementing acts pursuant to Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011. ACER shall be competent to adopt individual decisions as specified in the first subparagraph in the following situations: (a) where the competent regulatory authorities have not been able to reach an agreement within six months of referral of the case to the last of those regulatory authorities, or within four months in cases under Article 4(7) of this Regulation or under point (c) of Article (59)(1) or point (f) of Article 62(1) of Directive (EU) 2019/944; or (b) on the basis of a joint request from the competent regulatory authorities. The competent regulatory authorities may jointly request that the period referred to in point (a) of the second subparagraph of this paragraph be extended by a period of up to six months, except in cases under Article 4(7) of this Regulation or under point (c) of Article 59(1) or point (f) of Article 62(1) of Directive (EU) 2019/944. Where the competences to decide on cross-border issues referred to in the first subparagraph have been conferred on the regulatory authorities in new network codes or guidelines adopted as delegated acts after 4 July 2019, ACER shall only be competent on a voluntary basis pursuant to point (b) of the second subparagraph of this paragraph, upon a request from at least 60 % of the competent regulatory authorities. Where only two regulatory authorities are involved, either one may refer the case to ACER. By 31 October 2023, and every three years thereafter, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and to the Council on the possible need to further enhance ACER's involvement in solving cases of disagreement between regulatory authorities concerning joint decisions on matters for which the competences were conferred on those regulatory authorities by a delegated act after 4 July 2019. Where appropriate, the report shall be accompanied by a legislative proposal to modify such powers or to transfer the necessary powers to ACER. 11. When preparing its decision pursuant to paragraph 10, ACER shall consult the regulatory authorities and transmission system operators concerned and shall be informed of the proposals and observations of all the transmission system operators concerned. 12. Where a case has been referred to ACER under paragraph 10, ACER: (a) shall issue a decision within six months of the date of referral, or within four months thereof in cases pursuant to Article 4(7) of this Regulation or point (c) of Article (59)(1) or point (f) of Article 62(1) of Directive (EU) 2019/944; and (b) may, if necessary, provide an interim decision to ensure that security of supply or operational security is protected. 13. Where the regulatory issues referred to in paragraph 10 include exemptions within the meaning of Article 63 of Regulation (EU) 2019/943, or Article 36 of Directive 2009/73/EC, the deadlines provided for in this Regulation shall not be cumulative with the deadlines provided for in those provisions.

Article 7 Tasks of ACER as regards regional coordination centres 1. ACER, in close cooperation with the regulatory authorities and the ENTSO for Electricity, shall monitor and analyse the performance of regional coordination centres, taking into account the reports provided for in Article 46(3) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943. 2. To carry out the tasks referred to in paragraph 1 in an efficient and expeditious manner, ACER shall in particular: (a) decide on the configuration of system operation regions pursuant to Article 36(3) and (4) and issue approvals pursuant to Article 37(2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943; (b) request information from regional coordination centres where appropriate pursuant to Article 46 of Regulation (EU) 2019/943; (c) issue opinions and recommendations to the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission; (d) issue opinions and recommendations to regional coordination centres.

Article 8 Tasks of ACER as regards nominated electricity market operators In order to ensure that nominated electricity market operators carry out their functions under the Regulation (EU) 2019/943 and Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1222 (21), ACER shall: (a) monitor the nominated electricity market operators' progress in establishing the functions under Regulation (EU) 2015/1222; (b) issue recommendations to the Commission in accordance with Article 7(5) of Regulation (EU) 2015/1222; (c) request information from nominated electricity market operators where appropriate.

Article 9 Tasks of ACER as regards generation adequacy and risk preparedness 1. ACER shall approve and amend where necessary: (a) the proposals for methodologies and calculations related to the European resource adequacy assessment pursuant to Article 23(3), (4), (6) and (7) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943; (b) the proposals for technical specifications for cross-border participation in capacity mechanisms pursuant to Article 26(11) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943. 2. ACER shall provide an opinion pursuant to Article 24(3) of Regulation (EU) 2019/941 on whether the differences between the national resource adequacy assessment and the European resource adequacy assessment are justified. 3. ACER shall approve and amend where necessary the methodologies for: (a) identifying electricity crisis scenarios at a regional level pursuant to Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2019/941; (b) short-term and seasonal adequacy assessments pursuant to Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2019/941. 4. With respect to the security of gas supply, ACER shall be represented in the Gas Coordination Group in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1938, and shall carry out its obligations regarding permanent bi-directional capacity of interconnections for gas under Annex III to Regulation (EU) 2017/1938.

Article 10 Tasks of ACER as regards exemptions ACER shall decide on exemptions, as provided for in Article 63(5) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 ACER shall also decide on exemptions as provided for in Article 36(4) of Directive 2009/73/EC where the infrastructure concerned is located in the territory of more than one Member State.

Article 11 Tasks of ACER as regards infrastructure With respect to trans-European energy infrastructure, ACER, in close cooperation with the regulatory authorities and the ENTSO for Electricity and the ENTSO for Gas, shall: (a) monitor progress as regards the implementation of projects to create new interconnector capacity; (b) monitor the implementation of the Union-wide network-development plans. If ACER identifies inconsistencies between those plans and their implementation, it shall investigate the reasons for those inconsistencies and make recommendations to the transmission system operators, regulatory authorities or other competent bodies concerned with a view to implementing the investments in accordance with the Union-wide network-development plans; (c) carry out the obligations laid out in Articles 5, 11 and 13 of Regulation (EU) No 347/2013; (d) take decisions on investment requests pursuant to Article 12(6) of Regulation (EU) No 347/2013.

Article 12 Tasks of ACER as regards wholesale market integrity and transparency In order to effectively monitor wholesale market integrity and transparency, ACER, in close cooperation with the regulatory authorities and other national authorities, shall: (a) monitor wholesale markets, collect and share data and establish a European register of market participants in accordance with Articles 7 to 12 of Regulation (EU) No 1227/2011; (b) issue recommendations to the Commission in accordance with Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 1227/2011; (c) coordinate investigations pursuant to Article 16(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1227/2011.

Article 13 Commissioning of new tasks to ACER ACER may, in circumstances clearly defined by the Commission in network codes adopted pursuant to Article 59 of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 and guidelines adopted pursuant to Article 61 of that Regulation or Article 23 of Regulation (EC) No 715/2009 and on issues related to the purpose for which it has been established, be commissioned with additional tasks which do not involve decision-making powers.

Article 14 Consultations, transparency and procedural safeguards 1. In carrying out its tasks, in particular in the process of developing framework guidelines in accordance with Article 59 of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 or Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 715/2009, and in the process of proposing amendments of network codes under Article 60 of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 or Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 715/2009 ACER shall, extensively consult at an early stage market participants, transmission system operators, consumers, end-users and, where relevant, competition authorities, without prejudice to their respective competence, in an open and transparent manner, in particular when its tasks concern transmission system operators. 2. ACER shall ensure that the public and any interested parties are, where appropriate, given objective, reliable and easily accessible information, in particular with regard to the results of its work. All documents and minutes of consultation meetings conducted during the development of framework guidelines in accordance with Article 59 of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 or Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 715/2009, or during the amendment of network codes referred to in paragraph 1 shall be made public. 3. Before adopting framework guidelines, or proposing amendments to network codes as referred to in paragraph 1, ACER shall indicate how the observations received during the consultation have been taken into account and shall provide reasons where those observations have not been followed. 4. ACER shall make public, on its own website, at least the agenda, the background documents and, where appropriate, the minutes of the meetings of the Administrative Board, of the Board of Regulators and of the Board of Appeal. 5. ACER shall adopt and publish adequate and proportionate rules of procedure in accordance with the procedure set out in point (t) of Article 19(1). Those rules shall include provisions which ensure a transparent and reasonable decision-making process guaranteeing fundamental procedural rights based on the rule of law, including the right to be heard, rules on access to files and the standards specified in paragraphs 6, 7 and 8. 6. Before taking any individual decision as provided for in this Regulation, ACER shall inform any party concerned of its intention to adopt that decision, and shall set a time limit within which the party concerned may express its views on the matter, taking full account of the urgency, complexity and potential consequences of the matter. 7. Individual decisions of ACER shall state the reasons on which they are based for the purpose of allowing an appeal on the merits. 8. The parties concerned by individual decisions shall be informed of the legal remedies available under this Regulation.

Article 15 Monitoring and reporting on the electricity and natural gas sectors 1. ACER, in close cooperation with the Commission, the Member States and the relevant national authorities, including the regulatory authorities, and without prejudice to the competences of competition authorities, shall monitor the wholesale and retail markets in electricity and natural gas, in particular the retail prices of electricity and natural gas, compliance with the consumer rights laid down in Directive (EU) 2019/944 and Directive 2009/73/EC, the impact of market developments on household customers, access to the networks including access of electricity produced from renewable energy sources, the progress made with regard to interconnectors, potential barriers to cross-border trade, regulatory barriers for new market entrants and smaller actors, including citizen energy communities, state interventions preventing prices from reflecting actual scarcity, such as those set out in Article 10(4) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943, the performance of the Member States in the area of security of supply of electricity based on the results of the European resource adequacy assessment as referred to in Article 23 of that Regulation, taking into account, in particular, the ex-post evaluation referred to in Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2019/941. 2. ACER shall publish annually a report on the results of the monitoring referred to in paragraph 1. In that report, it shall identify any barriers to the completion of the internal markets for electricity and natural gas. 3. When publishing its annual report, ACER may submit to the European Parliament and to the Commission an opinion on the possible measures to remove the barriers referred to in paragraph 2. 4. ACER shall issue a best practices report on transmission and distribution tariffs methodologies pursuant to Article 18(9) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943.

Chapter II

Organisation of ACER

Article 16 Legal status 1. ACER shall be a Union body with legal personality. 2. In each Member State, ACER shall enjoy the most extensive legal capacity accorded to legal persons under national law. It shall, in particular, be able to acquire or dispose of movable and immovable property and be a party to legal proceedings. 3. ACER shall be represented by its Director. 4. The seat of ACER shall be Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Article 17 Administrative and Management Structure ACER shall be composed of: (a) an Administrative Board, which shall exercise the tasks set out in Article 19; (b) a Board of Regulators, which shall exercise the tasks set out in Article 22; (c) a Director, who shall exercise the tasks set out in Article 24; and (d) a Board of Appeal, which shall exercise the tasks set out in Article 28.

Article 18 Composition of the Administrative Board 1. The Administrative Board shall be composed of nine members. Each member shall have an alternate. Two members and their alternates shall be appointed by the Commission, two members and their alternates shall be appointed by the European Parliament and five members and their alternates shall be appointed by the Council. No Member of the European Parliament shall be a member of the Administrative Board. A member of the Administrative Board shall not be a member of the Board of Regulators. 2. The term of office of the members of the Administrative Board and their alternates shall be four years, renewable once. For the first mandate, the term of office of half of the members of the Administrative Board and their alternates shall be six years. 3. The Administrative Board shall elect its Chair and its Vice-Chair from among its members by a two-thirds majority. The Vice-Chair shall automatically replace the Chair if the latter is not in a position to perform his or her duties. The term of office of the Chair and of the Vice-Chair shall be two years, renewable once. The term of office of the Chair and that of the Vice-Chair shall expire when they cease to be members of the Administrative Board. 4. The meetings of the Administrative Board shall be convened by its Chair. The Chair of the Board of Regulators or the nominee of the Board of Regulators, and the Director shall participate, without the right to vote, in the deliberations unless the Administrative Board decides otherwise as regards the Director. The Administrative Board shall meet at least twice a year in ordinary session. It shall also meet at the initiative of its Chair, at the request of the Commission or at the request of at least a third of its members. The Administrative Board may invite any person who may have a relevant opinion to attend its meetings in the capacity of an observer. The members of the Administrative Board may, subject to its rules of procedure, be assisted by advisers or experts. The Administrative Board's secretarial services shall be provided by ACER. 5. Decisions of the Administrative Board shall be adopted on the basis of a two-thirds majority of the members present, unless provided otherwise in this Regulation. Each member of the Administrative Board or alternate shall have one vote. 6. The rules of procedure shall set out in greater detail: (a) the arrangements governing voting, in particular the conditions on the basis of which one member may act on behalf of another and also, where appropriate, the rules governing quorums; and (b) the arrangements governing the rotation applicable to the renewal of the members of the Administrative Board who are appointed by the Council so as to ensure a balanced participation of Member States over time. 7. Without prejudice to the role of the members appointed by the Commission, the members of the Administrative Board shall undertake to act independently and objectively in the interest of the Union as a whole, and shall neither seek nor follow instructions from Union institutions, bodies, offices or agencies, from any government of a Member State or from any other public or private body. For that purpose, each member shall make a written declaration of commitments and a written declaration of interests, indicating either the absence of any interest which might be considered to be prejudicial to his or her independence or any direct or indirect interest which might be considered prejudicial to his or her independence. ACER shall make those declarations public on an annual basis.

Article 19 Functions of the Administrative Board 1. The Administrative Board shall: (a) after consulting the Board of Regulators and obtaining its favourable opinion in accordance with point (c) of Article 22(5), appoint the Director in accordance with Article 23(2) and where relevant extend his or her term of office or remove him or her from office; (b) formally appoint the members of the Board of Regulators nominated in accordance with Article 21(1); (c) formally appoint the members of the Board of Appeal in accordance with Article 25(2); (d) ensure that ACER carries out its mission and performs the tasks assigned to it in accordance with this Regulation; (e) adopt the programming document referred to in Article 20(1) by a two-thirds majority of its members and, if applicable, amend it in accordance with Article 20(3); (f) adopt the annual budget of ACER and exercise its other budgetary functions in accordance with Articles 31 to 35; (g) decide, after obtaining the agreement of the Commission, whether to accept any legacies, donations or grants from other Union sources or any voluntary contribution from the Member States or from the regulatory authorities. The opinion of the Administrative Board delivered pursuant to Article 35(4) shall address the sources of funding set out in this paragraph; (h) after consulting the Board of Regulators, exercise disciplinary authority over the Director. In addition, in accordance with paragraph 2, it shall exercise, with respect to the staff of ACER, the powers conferred by the Staff Regulations on the Appointing Authority and by the Conditions of Employment on the Authority Empowered to conclude a Contract of Employment; (i) draw up ACER's implementing rules for giving effect to the Staff Regulations and the Conditions of Employment in accordance with Article 110 of the Staff Regulations pursuant to Article 39(2); (j) adopt practical measures regarding the right of access to ACER's documents, in accordance with Article 41; (k) adopt and publish the annual report on ACER's activities, on the basis of the draft annual report referred to in point (i) of Article 24(1), and shall submit that report to the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, and the Court of Auditors by 1 July of each year. The annual report on ACER's activities shall contain an independent section, approved by the Board of Regulators, concerning ACER's regulatory activities during that year; (l) adopt and publish its own rules of procedure; (m) adopt the financial rules applicable to ACER in accordance with Article 36; (n) adopt an anti-fraud strategy, proportionate to the risk of fraud, taking into account the costs and benefits of the measures to be implemented; (o) adopt rules for the prevention and management of conflicts of interest in respect of its members as well as members of the Board of Appeal; (p) adopt and regularly update the communication and dissemination plans referred to in Article 41; (q) appoint an Accounting Officer, subject to the Staff Regulations and the Conditions of Employment, who shall be totally independent in the performance of his or her duties; (r) ensure appropriate follow-up to findings and recommendations stemming from the internal or external audit reports and evaluations, as well as from investigations of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF); (s) authorise the conclusion of working arrangements in accordance with Article 43; (t) on the basis of a proposal from the Director in accordance with point (b) of Article 24(1), and after consulting the Board of Regulators and obtaining its favourable opinion in accordance with point (f) of Article 22(5), adopt and publish the rules of procedure referred to in Article 14(5). 2. The Administrative Board shall adopt, in accordance with Article 110 of the Staff Regulations, a decision based on Article 2(1) of the Staff Regulations and on Article 6 of the Conditions of Employment, delegating relevant appointing authority powers to the Director and defining the conditions under which that delegation of powers can be suspended. The Director shall be authorised to sub-delegate those powers. 3. Where exceptional circumstances so require, the Administrative Board may by way of a decision temporarily suspend the delegation of the appointing authority powers to the Director and those sub-delegated by the latter and in favour of itself or delegate them to one of its members or to a staff member other than the Director. The exceptional circumstances shall be strictly limited to administrative, budgetary or managerial matters, without prejudice to the Director's full independence concerning his or her tasks pursuant to point (c) of Article 24(1).

Article 20 Annual and multi-annual programming 1. Each year, the Director shall prepare a draft programming document containing annual and multi-annual programming, and shall submit the draft programming document to the Administrative Board and to the Board of Regulators. The Administrative Board shall adopt the draft programming document after receipt of a favourable opinion of the Board of Regulators, and shall submit the draft programming document to the European Parliament, to the Council and to the Commission no later than 31 January. The draft programming document shall be in accordance with the provisional draft estimate established in accordance with Article 33(1), (2) and (3). The Administrative Board shall adopt the programming document, taking into account the opinion of the Commission, after receipt of a favourable opinion from the Board of Regulators, and after the Director has presented it to the European Parliament. The Administrative Board shall submit the programming document to the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission by 31 December. The programming document shall be adopted without prejudice to the annual budgetary procedure and shall be made public. The programming document shall become definitive after the final adoption of the general budget and, if necessary, shall be adjusted accordingly. 2. The annual programming in the programming document shall comprise detailed objectives and expected results, including performance indicators. It shall also contain a description of the actions to be financed and an indication of the financial and human resources allocated to each action, including a reference to ACER's working groups tasked with contributing to the drafting of the respective documents, in accordance with the principles of activity-based budgeting and management. The annual programming shall be coherent with the multi-annual programming referred to in paragraph 4. It shall clearly indicate the tasks that have been added, changed or deleted in comparison with the previous financial year. 3. The Administrative Board shall amend the adopted programming document where a new task is assigned to ACER. Any substantial amendment to the programming document shall be adopted by the same procedure set out for the initial programming document. The Administrative Board may delegate the power to make non-substantial amendments to the programming document to the Director. 4. The multi-annual programming in the programming document shall set out the overall strategic programming, including objectives, expected results and performance indicators. It shall also set out resource programming, including the multi-annual budget and staff. The resource programming shall be updated annually. The strategic programming shall be updated where appropriate, in particular to address the outcome of the evaluation referred to in Article 45.

Article 21 Composition of the Board of Regulators 1. The Board of Regulators shall be composed of: (a) senior representatives of the regulatory authorities, in accordance with Article 57(1) of Directive (EU) 2019/944 and Article 39(1) of Directive 2009/73/EC, and one alternate per Member State from the current senior staff of those authorities, both nominated by the regulatory authority; (b) one non-voting representative of the Commission. Only one representative per Member State from the regulatory authority may be admitted to the Board of Regulators. 2. The Board of Regulators shall elect a Chair and a Vice-Chair from among its members. The Vice-Chair shall replace the Chair if the latter is not in a position to perform his or her duties. The term of office of the Chair and of the Vice-Chair shall be two-and-a-half years and shall be renewable. In any event, however, the term of office of the Chair and that of the Vice-Chair shall expire when they cease to be members of the Board of Regulators.

Article 22 Functions of the Board of Regulators 1. The Board of Regulators shall act by a two-thirds majority of the members present, with one vote for each member. 2. The Board of Regulators shall adopt and publish its rules of procedure, which shall set out in greater detail the arrangements governing voting, in particular the conditions on the basis of which one member may act on behalf of another and also, where appropriate, the rules governing quorums. The rules of procedure may provide for specific working methods for the consideration of issues arising in the context of regional cooperation initiatives. 3. When carrying out the tasks conferred upon it by this Regulation and without prejudice to its members acting on behalf of their respective regulatory authority, the Board of Regulators shall act independently and shall not seek or follow instructions from any government of a Member State, from the Commission, or from another public or private entity. 4. The secretarial services of the Board of Regulators shall be provided by ACER. 5. The Board of Regulators shall: (a) provide opinions and, where appropriate, comments on and amendments to the text of the Director's proposals for draft opinions, recommendations and decisions referred to in Article 3(1), Articles 4 to 8, Article 9(1) and (3), Article 10, point (c) of Article 11, Article 13, Article 15(4), and Articles 30 and 43 which are considered for adoption; (b) within its field of competence, provide guidance to the Director in the execution of his or her tasks, with the exception of ACER's tasks under Regulation (EU) No 1227/2011 and provide guidance to ACER's working groups established pursuant to Article 30; (c) provide an opinion to the Administrative Board on the candidate to be appointed as Director in accordance with point (a) of Article 19(1) and Article 23(2); (d) approve the programming document in accordance with Article 20(1); (e) approve the independent section on regulatory activities of the annual report, in accordance with point (k) of Article 19(1) and point (i) of Article 24(1); (f) provide an opinion to the Administrative Board on the rules of procedure under Article 14(5) and Article 30(3); (g) provide an opinion to the Administrative Board on the communication and dissemination plans referred to in Article 41; (h) provide an opinion to the Administrative Board on the rules of procedure for relations with third countries or international organisations referred to in Article 43. 6. The European Parliament shall be informed of the draft agenda of upcoming meetings of the Board of Regulators at least two weeks in advance. Within two weeks of those meetings, the draft minutes shall be sent to the European Parliament. The European Parliament may invite, while fully respecting his or her independence, the Chair of the Board of Regulators or the Vice-Chair to make a statement before its competent committee and answer questions put by the members of that committee.

Article 23 Director 1. ACER shall be managed by its Director, who shall act in accordance with the guidance referred to in point (b) of Article 22(5) and, where provided for in this Regulation, the opinions of the Board of Regulators. Without prejudice to the respective roles of the Administrative Board and the Board of Regulators in relation to the tasks of the Director, the Director shall neither seek nor follow any instruction from any government, from the Union institutions, or from any other public or private entity or person. The Director shall be accountable to the Administrative Board with respect to administrative, budgetary and managerial matters, but remain fully independent concerning his or her tasks under point (c) of Article 24(1). The Director may attend the meetings of the Board of Regulators as an observer. 2. The Director shall be appointed by the Administrative Board following a favourable opinion of the Board of Regulators, on the basis of merit as well as skills and experience relevant to the energy sector, from a list of at least three candidates proposed by the Commission, following an open and transparent selection procedure. Before appointment, the candidate selected by the Administrative Board shall make a statement before the competent committee of the European Parliament and answer questions put by its members. For the purpose of concluding the contract with the Director, ACER shall be represented by the Chair of the Administrative Board. 3. The Director's term of office shall be five years. In the course of the nine months preceding the end of that period, the Commission shall undertake an assessment. In the assessment, the Commission shall examine in particular: (a) the performance of the Director; (b) ACER's duties and requirements in the following years. 4. The Administrative Board, acting on a proposal from the Commission, after consulting the Board of Regulators and giving the utmost consideration to the assessment and opinion of the Board of Regulators, and only where justified on the basis of the duties and requirements of ACER, may extend the term of office of the Director once by no more than five years. A Director whose term of office has been extended shall not participate in another selection procedure for the same post at the end of the extended period. 5. The Administrative Board shall inform the European Parliament of its intention to extend the Director's term of office. Within one month before the extension of his or her term of office, the Director may be invited to make a statement before the competent committee of the European Parliament and to answer questions put by the members of that committee. 6. If his or her term of office is not extended, the Director shall remain in office until the appointment of his or her successor. 7. The Director may be removed from office only upon a decision of the Administrative Board, after having obtained a favourable opinion of the Board of Regulators. The Administrative Board shall reach that decision on the basis of a two-thirds majority of its members. 8. The European Parliament and the Council may call upon the Director to submit a report on the performance of his or her duties. The European Parliament may also invite the Director to make a statement before its competent committee and answer questions put by the members of that committee.

Article 24 Tasks of the Director 1. The Director shall: (a) be the legal representative of ACER and shall be in charge of its day-to-day management; (b) prepare the work of the Administrative Board, participate, without having the right to vote, in the work of the Administrative Board and have responsibility for implementing the decisions adopted by the Administrative Board; (c) draft, consult upon, adopt and publish opinions, recommendations and decisions; (d) be responsible for implementing ACER's annual work programme under the guidance of the Board of Regulators and under the administrative control of the Administrative Board; (e) take the necessary measures, in particular as regards adopting internal administrative instructions and publishing notices, to ensure the functioning of ACER in accordance with this Regulation; (f) each year, prepare ACER's draft work programme for the following year, and shall, after the adoption of the draft by the Administrative Board submit it to the Board of Regulators, to the European Parliament and to the Commission by 31 January every year; (g) be responsible for implementing the programming document and reporting to the Administrative Board on its implementation; (h) draw up a provisional draft estimate of ACER pursuant to Article 33(1) and implement ACER's budget in accordance with Articles 34 and 35; (i) each year, prepare and submit to the Administrative Board a draft annual report including an independent section on ACER's regulatory activities and a section on financial and administrative matters; (j) prepare an action plan following up on the conclusions of internal or external audit reports and evaluations, as well as on investigations by OLAF, and report on progress twice a year to the Commission and report regularly on progress to the Administrative Board; (k) be responsible for deciding whether, for the purpose of carrying out ACER's tasks in an efficient and effective manner, it is necessary to locate one or more members of staff in one or more Member States. For the purpose of point (k) of the first subparagraph, before deciding to establish a local office the Director shall seek the opinion of the Member States concerned, including the Member State in which ACER's seat is located, and shall obtain the prior consent of the Commission and the Administrative Board. The decision shall be based on an appropriate cost-benefit analysis and shall specify the scope of the activities to be carried out at that local office in a manner that avoids unnecessary costs and duplication of ACER's administrative functions. 2. For the purposes of point (c) of paragraph 1 of this Article, opinions, recommendations and decisions referred to in Article 3(1), Articles 4 to 8, Article 9(1) and (3), Article 10, point (c) of Article 11, Article 13, Article 15(4), and Articles 30 and 43 shall be adopted only after having obtained the favourable opinion of the Board of Regulators. Before submitting draft opinions, recommendations or decisions to a vote by the Board of Regulators, the Director shall submit proposals for the draft opinions, recommendations or decisions to the relevant working group for consultation sufficiently in advance. The Director: (a) shall take the comments and amendments of the Board of Regulators into account and shall resubmit the revised draft opinion, recommendation or decision to the Board of Regulators for a favourable opinion; (b) may withdraw submitted draft opinions, recommendations or decisions provided that the Director submits a duly justified written explanation where the Director disagrees with the amendments submitted by the Board of Regulators; In the case of a withdrawal of a draft opinion, recommendation or decision, the Director may issue a new draft opinion, recommendation or decision following the procedure set out in point (a) of Article 22(5) and in the second subparagraph of this paragraph. For the purposes of point (a) of the third subparagraph of this paragraph, where the Director deviates from or rejects the comments and amendments received from the Board of Regulators, the Director shall also provide a duly justified written explanation. If the Board of Regulators does not give a favourable opinion on the resubmitted text of the draft opinion, recommendation or decision because its comments and amendments were not adequately reflected in the resubmitted text, the Director may revise the text of the draft opinion, recommendation or decision further in accordance with the amendments and comments proposed by the Board of Regulators in order to obtain its favourable opinion, without having to consult the relevant working group again or having to provide additional written reasons.

Article 25 Creation and composition of the Board of Appeal 1. ACER shall establish a Board of Appeal. 2. The Board of Appeal shall be composed of six members and six alternates selected from among current or former senior staff of the regulatory authorities, competition authorities or other Union or national institutions with relevant experience in the energy sector. The Board of Appeal shall designate its Chair. The members of the Board of Appeal shall be formally appointed by the Administrative Board, on a proposal from the Commission, following a public call for expression of interest, and after consulting the Board of Regulators. 3. The Board of Appeal shall adopt and publish its rules of procedure. Those rules shall set out in detail the arrangements governing the organisation and functioning of the Board of Appeal and the rules applicable to appeals before the Board, pursuant to Article 28. The Board of Appeal shall notify the Commission of its draft rules of procedure as well as any significant change to those rules. The Commission may provide an opinion on those rules within three months of the date of receipt of the notification. ACER's budget shall comprise a separate budget line for the financing of the registry of the Board of Appeal. 4. The decisions of the Board of Appeal shall be adopted on the basis of a majority of at least four of its six members. The Board of Appeal shall be convened when necessary.

Article 26 Members of the Board of Appeal 1. The term of office of the members of the Board of Appeal shall be five years. That term shall be renewable once. 2. The members of the Board of Appeal shall be independent in making their decisions. They shall not be bound by any instructions. They shall not perform any other duties in ACER, in its Administrative Board, in its Board of Regulators or in any of its working groups. A member of the Board of Appeal shall not be removed during his or her term of office, unless he or she has been found guilty of serious misconduct, and the Administrative Board, after consulting the Board of Regulators, takes a decision to that effect.

Article 27 Exclusion and objection in the Board of Appeal 1. Members of the Board of Appeal shall not take part in any appeal proceedings if they have any personal interest therein, if they have previously been involved as representatives of one of the parties to the proceedings, or if they participated in the decision under appeal. 2. A member of the Board of Appeal shall inform the Board in the event that, for one of the reasons referred to in paragraph 1 or for any other reason, he or she considers that a fellow member should not take part in any appeal proceedings. Any party to the appeal proceedings may object to the participation of a member of the Board of Appeal on any of the grounds referred to in paragraph 1, or in the case of suspected bias. Such an objection shall be inadmissible if it is based on the nationality of a member or if, while being aware of a reason for objecting, the objecting party to the appeal proceedings has taken a procedural step in the appeal proceedings other than objecting to the composition of the Board of Appeal. 3. The Board of Appeal shall decide on the action to be taken in the cases specified in paragraphs 1 and 2 without the participation of the member concerned. For the purpose of taking that decision, the member concerned shall be replaced on the Board of Appeal by his or her alternate. If the alternate finds him or herself in a similar situation to that of the member, the Chair shall designate a replacement from among the available alternates. 4. The members of the Board of Appeal shall undertake to act independently and in the public interest. For that purpose, they shall make a written declaration of commitments and a written declaration of interests indicating either the absence of any interest which might be considered prejudicial to their independence or indicating any direct or indirect interest which might be considered prejudicial to their independence. Those declarations shall be made public annually.

Article 28 Decisions subject to appeal 1. Any natural or legal person, including the regulatory authorities, may appeal against a decision referred to in point (d) of Article 2 which is addressed to that person, or against a decision which, although in the form of a decision addressed to another person, is of direct and individual concern to that person. 2. The appeal shall include a statement of the grounds for appeal and shall be filed in writing at ACER within two months of the notification of the decision to the person concerned, or, in the absence thereof, within two months of the date on which ACER published its decision. The Board of Appeal shall decide upon the appeal within four months of the lodging of the appeal. 3. An appeal lodged pursuant to paragraph 1 shall not have suspensory effect. The Board of Appeal may, however, if it considers that circumstances so require, suspend the application of the contested decision. 4. If the appeal is admissible, the Board of Appeal shall examine whether it is well-founded. It shall invite the parties to the appeal proceedings as often as necessary to file observations on notifications issued by itself or on communications from the other parties to the appeal proceedings, within specified time limits. Parties to the appeal proceedings shall be entitled to make an oral presentation. 5. The Board of Appeal may confirm the decision, or it may remit the case to the competent body of ACER. The latter shall be bound by the decision of the Board of Appeal. 6. ACER shall publish the decisions taken by the Board of Appeal.

Article 29 Actions before the Court of Justice Actions for the annulment of a decision issued by ACER pursuant to this Regulation and actions for failure to act within the applicable time limits may be brought before the Court of Justice only after the exhaustion of the appeal procedure referred to in Article 28. ACER shall take the necessary measures to comply with the judgments of the Court of Justice.

Article 30 Working groups 1. Where justified, and in particular to support the work of the Director and of the Board of Regulators on regulatory issues and for the purpose of preparing the opinions, recommendations and decisions referred to in Article 3(1), Articles 4 to 8, Article 9(1) and (3), Article 10, point (c) of Article 11, Article 13, Article 15(4), and Articles 30 and 43, the Administrative Board shall establish or remove working groups on the basis of a joint proposal from the Director and the Board of Regulators. The establishment and the removal of a working group shall require a favourable opinion of the Board of Regulators. 2. The working groups shall be composed of experts from among ACER's and the regulatory authorities' staff. Experts from the Commission may participate in working groups. ACER shall not be responsible for the costs of the participation of experts from the staff of regulatory authorities in ACER's working groups. Working groups shall take into consideration the views of experts from other relevant national authorities where those authorities are competent. 3. The Administrative Board shall adopt and publish internal rules of procedure for the functioning of the working groups on the basis of a proposal from the Director, after consulting the Board of Regulators and obtaining its favourable opinion. 4. ACER's working groups shall carry out the activities assigned to them in the programming document adopted pursuant to Article 20 and any activities under this Regulation assigned to them by the Board of Regulators and the Director.

Chapter III

Establishment and structure of the budget

Article 31 Structure of the budget 1. Without prejudice to other resources the revenues of ACER shall be made up of: (a) a contribution from the Union; (b) fees paid to ACER pursuant to Article 32; (c) any voluntary contributions from the Member States or from the regulatory authorities, under point (g) of Article 19(1); (d) legacies, donations or grants under point (g) of Article 19(1). 2. ACER's expenditure shall include staff, administrative, infrastructure, and operational expenses. 3. ACER's revenue and expenditure shall be in balance. 4. All ACER's revenue and expenditure shall be the subject of forecasts for each financial year, coinciding with the calendar year, and shall be entered in its budget. 5. The revenue received by ACER shall not compromise its neutrality, independence or objectivity.

Article 32 Fees 1. Fees shall be due to ACER for the following: (a) requesting an exemption decision pursuant to Article 10 of this Regulation and for decisions on cross-border cost allocation provided by ACER pursuant to Article 12 of Regulation (EU) No 347/2013; (b) collecting, handling, processing and analysing of information reported by market participants or by entities reporting on their behalf pursuant to Article 8 of Regulation (EU) No 1227/2011. 2. The fees referred to in paragraph 1, and the way in which they are to be paid, shall be set by the Commission after carrying out a public consultation and after consulting the Administrative Board and the Board of Regulators. The fees shall be proportionate to the costs of the relevant services as provided in a cost-effective way and shall be sufficient to cover those costs. Those fees shall be set at such a level as to ensure that they are non-discriminatory and that they avoid placing an undue financial or administrative burden on market participants or entities acting on their behalf. The Commission shall regularly examine the level of those fees on the basis of an evaluation and, if necessary, shall adapt the level of those fees and the way in which they are to be paid.

Article 33 Establishment of the budget 1. Each year, the Director shall draw up a provisional draft estimate covering the operational expenditure and the programme of work anticipated for the following financial year, and shall submit that provisional draft estimate to the Administrative Board, together with a list of provisional posts. 2. The provisional draft estimate shall be based on the objectives and expected results of the programming document referred to in Article 20(1), and shall take into account the financial resources that are necessary to achieve those objectives and expected results. 3. Each year, the Administrative Board shall, on the basis of the provisional draft estimate prepared by the Director, adopt a provisional draft estimate of revenue and expenditure of ACER for the following financial year. 4. The provisional draft estimate, including a draft establishment plan, shall be transmitted by the Administrative Board to the Commission by 31 January each year. Prior to adoption of the estimate, the draft prepared by the Director shall be transmitted to the Board of Regulators, which may deliver a reasoned opinion on the draft. 5. The estimate referred to in paragraph 3 shall be transmitted by the Commission to the European Parliament and to the Council, together with the draft general budget of the Union. 6. On the basis of the draft estimate, the Commission shall enter into the draft general budget of the Union the estimates it considers necessary in respect of the establishment plan and the amount of the grant to be charged to the general budget of the Union in accordance with Articles 313 to 316 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). 7. The Council in its role as budgetary authority shall adopt the establishment plan for ACER. 8. ACER's budget shall be adopted by the Administrative Board. It shall become final after the final adoption of the general budget of the Union. Where necessary, it shall be adjusted accordingly. 9. Any modification to the budget, including the establishment plan, shall follow the same procedure. 10. By 5 July 2020, the Commission shall assess whether the financial and human resources available to ACER allow it to fulfil its role under this Regulation of working towards an internal energy market and of contributing to energy security to the benefit of consumers in the Union. 11. The Administrative Board shall, without delay, notify the budgetary authority of its intention to implement any project which may have significant financial implications for the funding of ACER's budget, in particular any project relating to property. The Administrative Board shall also inform the Commission of its intention. If either branch of the budgetary authority intends to issue an opinion, it shall, within two weeks of receipt of the information on the project, notify ACER of its intention thereof. In the absence of a reply, ACER may proceed with the planned project.

Article 34 Implementation and control of the budget 1. The Director shall act as authorising officer and shall implement ACER's budget. 2. By 1 March following the completion of each financial year, ACER's accounting officer shall submit the provisional accounts, accompanied by the report on budgetary and financial management over the financial year to the Commission's accounting officer and to the Court of Auditors. ACER's accounting officer shall also submit the report on budgetary and financial management to the European Parliament and the Council by 31 March of the following year. The Commission's accounting officer shall then consolidate the provisional accounts of the institutions and decentralised bodies in accordance with Article 245 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council (22) (‘the Financial Regulation’).

Article 35 Presentation of accounts and discharge 1. ACER's accounting officer shall submit the provisional accounts for the financial year (year N) to the Commission's Accounting Officer and to the Court of Auditors by 1 March of the following financial year (year N + 1). 2. ACER shall submit a report on the budgetary and financial management for year N to the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission and the Court of Auditors by 31 March of year N + 1. By 31 March of year N + 1, the Commission's accounting officer shall submit the provisional accounts of ACER to the Court of Auditors. The Commission shall also submit the report on budgetary and financial management over the financial year to the European Parliament and to the Council. 3. After receipt of the observations of the Court of Auditors on ACER's provisional accounts for year N in accordance with the provisions of Article 246 of the Financial Regulation, the accounting officer, acting on his or her own responsibility, shall draw up ACER's final accounts for that year. The Director shall submit them to the Administrative Board for an opinion. 4. The Administrative Board shall deliver an opinion on ACER's final accounts for year N. 5. ACER's accounting officer shall submit the final accounts for year N, accompanied by the opinion of the Administrative Board, by 1 July of year N + 1, to the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission and the Court of Auditors. 6. The final accounts shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union by 15 November of year N + 1. 7. The Director shall submit a reply to the Court of Auditors' observations by 30 September of year N + 1. The Director shall also submit a copy of that reply to the Administrative Board and the Commission. 8. The Director shall submit to the European Parliament, at the latter's request, any information necessary for the smooth application of the discharge procedure for year N in accordance with Article 109(3) of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1271/2013. 9. The European Parliament, following a recommendation by the Council, acting by qualified majority, shall, before 15 May of the year N + 2, grant a discharge to the Director for the implementation of the budget for the financial year N.

Article 36 Financial rules The financial rules applicable to ACER shall be adopted by the Administrative Board after consulting the Commission. Those rules may deviate from Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1271/2013 if the specific operational needs for the functioning of ACER so require and only with the prior agreement of the Commission.

Article 37 Combating fraud 1. In order to facilitate the combating of fraud, corruption and other unlawful activities under Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (23), ACER shall accede to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 25 May 1999 concerning internal investigations by OLAF (24) and shall adopt appropriate provisions applicable to the employees of ACER, using the template set out in the Annex to that Agreement. 2. The Court of Auditors shall have the power to carry out on-the-spot audits, as well as auditing on the basis of documents, with respect to the grant beneficiaries, contractors and subcontractors that have received Union funds from ACER. 3. OLAF may carry out investigations, including on-the-spot checks and inspections, 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 a grant or a contract funded by ACER, in accordance with the provisions and procedures laid down in Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 and Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 (25). 4. Without prejudice to paragraphs 1, 2 and 3, cooperation agreements with third countries and international organisations, contracts, grant agreements and grant decisions of ACER shall contain provisions expressly empowering the Court of Auditors and OLAF to conduct the audits and investigations referred to in this Article, in accordance with their respective competences.

Chapter IV

General and final provisions

Article 38 Privileges and immunities and Headquarters Agreement 1. Protocol No 7 on Privileges and Immunities of the European Union annexed to the TEU and to the TFEU shall apply to ACER and to its staff. 2. The necessary arrangements concerning the accommodation to be provided for ACER in the host Member State and the facilities to be made available by that Member State, together with the specific rules applicable in the host Member State to the Director, members of the Administrative Board, ACER's staff and members of their families, shall be laid down in a Headquarters Agreement between ACER and the Member State where the seat is located. That agreement shall be concluded after obtaining the approval of the Administrative Board.

Article 39 Staff 1. The Staff Regulations and the Conditions of Employment and the rules adopted jointly by the Union institutions for the purpose of applying the Staff Regulations and the Conditions of Employment shall apply to ACER's staff, including its Director. 2. The Administrative Board, in agreement with the Commission, shall adopt appropriate implementing rules, in accordance with Article 110 of the Staff Regulations. 3. In respect of its staff, ACER shall exercise the powers conferred on the appointing auth