Article 54

The authorising officer shall be liable for payment of compensation as laid down in the Staff Regulations. The obligation to pay compensation shall apply in particular if the authorising officer, whether intentionally or through gross negligence on his or her part: determines entitlements to be recovered or issues recovery orders, commits expenditure or signs a payment order without complying with this Regulation and, where appropriate, with the rules implementing the Union body’s Financial Regulation; omits to draw up a document establishing an amount receivable, neglects to issue a recovery order or is late in issuing it or is late in issuing a payment order, thereby rendering the Union body liable to civil action by third parties. An authorising officer by delegation or subdelegation who considers that a decision, which is his or her responsibility to take, is irregular or contrary to the principle of sound financial management shall inform the delegating authority in writing. If the delegating authority then gives a reasoned instruction in writing to the authorising officer by delegation or subdelegation to take that decision, that authorising officer shall not be held liable. In the event of delegation, the authorising officer shall continue to be responsible for the efficiency and effectiveness of the internal management and control systems put in place and for the choice of the authorising officer by delegation. The specialised financial irregularities panel set up by the Commission or in which the Commission participates in accordance with Article 73(6) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012, shall exercise the same powers in respect of the Union body as it does in respect of Commission departments, unless the management board or, where the constituent act allows it, the executive board decides to set up a functionally independent panel, or to participate in a joint panel established by several bodies. For cases submitted by Union bodies, the specialised financial irregularities panel set up by the Commission or in which the Commission participates shall include one staff member of a Union body. On the basis of the opinion of the panel referred to in the first subparagraph, the director shall decide whether to initiate proceedings for disciplinary action or payment of compensation. If the panel detects systemic problems, it shall send a report with recommendations to the authorising officer and to the Commission’s internal auditor. If the opinion implicates the director, the panel shall send it to the management board and the Commission’s internal auditor. The director shall refer, in anonymous form, to opinions of the panel in his or her annual activity report and indicate the follow-up measures taken. Any member of staff may be required to compensate, in whole or in part, any damage suffered by the Union body as a result of serious misconduct on his or her part in the course of or in connection with the performance of his or her duties. The appointing authority shall take a reasoned decision, after completing the formalities laid down by the Staff Regulations with regard to disciplinary matters.

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Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-11-01 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.