However, the overall total of the appropriations available in the budget of the preceding financial year or in the draft budget, as proposed, may in no circumstances be exceeded.

However, the overall total of the appropriations available in the budget of the preceding financial year or in the draft budget, as proposed, may in no circumstances be exceeded.

If, at the beginning of a financial year, the budget has not yet been voted, a sum equivalent to not more than one twelfth of the budget appropriations for the preceding financial year may be spent each month in respect of any chapter or other subdivision of the budget in accordance with the provisions of the Regulations made pursuant to Article 279; this arrangement shall not, however, have the effect of placing at the disposal of the Commission appropriations in excess of one twelfth of those provided for in the draft budget in course of preparation.

However, the available overall total of the appropriations in the budget of the preceding financial year may in no circumstances be exceeded.

However, the available overall total of the appropriations in the budget of the preceding financial year may in no circumstances be exceeded.

4. If, for a given chapter, the authorization of two or more provisional twelfths granted in the circumstances provided for in paragraph 3 does not enable the expenditure necessary to avoid a break in continuity of the Community's activity in the area in question to be met, an overstepping of the total provided for in the last subparagraph of paragraph 3 may, exceptionally, be authorized in accordance with the same procedures, provided that the overall total of the appropriations opened in the budget of the preceding year is not exceeded'.