Article 83 — Protection of the financial interests of the Union

1. Where an associated country participates in the Programme by means of a decision adopted pursuant to the Agreement on the European Economic Area or on the basis of any other legal instrument, the associated country shall grant the necessary rights and access required for the authorising officer responsible, OLAF and the European Court of Auditors to comprehensively exercise their respective competences. In the case of OLAF, such rights shall include the right to carry out investigations, including on-the-spot checks and inspections, as provided for in Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013. 2. The agreement referred to in Article 78 shall provide for the obligations of Ukraine: (a) to take appropriate measures to prevent, detect and correct irregularities, fraud, corruption and conflicts of interest affecting the financial interests of the Union, to detect and avoid double-funding and to take legal action to recover funds that have been misappropriated; (b) to regularly check that the financing provided has been used in accordance with the applicable rules, in particular regarding the prevention, detection and correction of irregularities, fraud, corruption and conflicts of interest; (c) to accompany a request for payment under the Ukraine Support Instrument with a declaration that the funds were used in accordance with the principle of sound financial management and for their intended purpose and managed appropriately, in particular in accordance with Ukrainian rules complemented by international standards on prevention, detection and correction of irregularities, fraud, corruption and conflicts of interest; (d) to expressly authorise the Commission, OLAF, the European Court of Auditors and, where applicable, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office to exert their rights as provided for in Article 129(1) of the Financial Regulation, in application of the principle of proportionality.