Common use of Audits and controls Clause in Contracts

Audits and controls. (1) The Agency and such persons who are authorised for this purpose by the Executive Director may carry out audits and controls and have access to all books, papers, records and files kept by the Contractor relating to the performance of the contract and to the expenditure incurred in its performance during the contractual period and for a period of five years after such period. The Contractor shall provide free of charge all the information thus requested. (2) In order to carry out audits, the Agency and such persons who are authorised for this purpose by the Executive Director shall have total on-the-spot access, notably to the Contractor's offices, at all times and to all the information needed to check that the Contractor has complied with the Contract, including information in electronic format. (3) The European Court of Auditors and the European Anti-Fraud Office may carry out audits and controls in accordance with relevant Community laws, especially the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities1.