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1. Following the start of programme implementation disruption and for the duration of the disruption, the managing authority shall be required to follow all the steps necessary for pursuing the recovery of amounts unduly paid from beneficiaries in partner countries or from lead beneficiaries in Member States or partner countries in accordance with the procedure set out in paragraphs 2 to 5.

2. The managing authority may decide to recover amounts unduly paid directly from a beneficiary in a Member State without prior recovery through the lead beneficiary in a partner country.

3. The managing authority shall prepare and send out recovery letters in order to recover amounts unduly paid. However, in the case of a negative response or in the absence of a reaction from beneficiaries in partner countries or from the partner country in which the beneficiary is established, the managing authority shall not be required to pursue an administrative procedure or to attempt a recovery from a respective partner country or to launch a legal redress procedure in the partner country concerned. The managing authority shall document its decision not to pursue a first attempt of recovery. That document shall be considered as sufficient proof of due diligence exercised by the managing authority.

4. Where the recovery relates to a claim against a beneficiary established in a partner country in the situation referred to in Article 2(1), point (2)(a), and whose co-financing is transferred to the managing authority, the managing authority may offset the claim to be recovered with the non-used funds previously transferred by the partner country to the managing authority.

5. Where the recovery relates to a claim against a beneficiary established in a partner country in the situation referred to in Article 2(1), point (2)(a), and where the managing authority is unable to offset that claim in accordance with paragraph 4 of this Article, the managing authority may request that the Commission takes over the task of recovering the amounts. Where the beneficiary concerned is subject to an asset freeze or a prohibition to make funds or economic resources available to it, or for its benefit, either directly or indirectly, pursuant to restrictive measures adopted in accordance with Article 215 TFEU, the managing authority shall be obliged to request that the Commission takes over the task of recovering the amounts. The managing authority shall cede its rights vis-à-vis the beneficiary to the Commission to that end. The managing authority shall inform the Joint Monitoring Committee about any recovery procedure taken over by the Commission.