Recital 4

(4)The protection of the Community's financial interests and the fight against fraud and irregularities form an integral part of Regulation (EC) No 975/1999. In particular, agreements and contracts concluded pursuant to that Regulation should authorise the Commission to carry out the measures provided for in Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 of 11 November 1996 concerning on-the-spot checks and inspections carried out by the Commission in order to protect the European Communities' financial interests against fraud and other irregularities ⁵ .