1. Upon the specific and precise request of the Commission, which shall have informed the European Parliament and the Council at least three months in advance of making such a request, and after a positive decision of the Management Board, the Agency may, in accordance with point (u) of Article 19(1) of this Regulation and by way of a delegation agreement be entrusted with carrying out pilot projects as referred to in point (a) of Article 58(2) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 for the development or the operational management of large-scale IT systems pursuant to Articles 67 to 89 TFEU in accordance with point (c) of Article 62(1) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046.
The Agency shall keep the European Parliament, the Council and, where the processing of personal data is concerned, the European Data Protection Supervisor informed on a regular basis of the evolution of the pilot projects carried out by the Agency under the first subparagraph.
2. Financial appropriations for pilot projects as referred to in point (a) of Article 58(2) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046, that have been requested by the Commission under paragraph 1, shall be entered in the budget for no more than two consecutive financial years.
3. At the request of the Commission or the Council, after having informed the European Parliament and after a positive decision of the Management Board, the Agency may be entrusted, by way of a delegation agreement, with budget implementation tasks for proofs of concept funded under the instrument for financial support for external borders and visa established by Regulation (EU) No 515/2014 in accordance with point (c) of Article 62(1) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046.
4. Following a positive decision of the Management Board, the Agency may plan and implement testing activities on matters covered by this Regulation and by any of the Union legal acts governing the development, establishment, operation and use of the systems.