The contractor must  notify  the contracting authority as soon as it is able to resume  performance of  the contract , unless the contracting authority has already terminated the contract.  II.17.2 Suspension by the contracting authority  The contracting authority may suspend the  performance of the contract  or any part of it:  (a)  if the procedure for awarding the contract or the  performance of the contract  proves to have  been subject to  irregularities, fraud  or  breach of obligations ; (b) in order to verify whether the presumed  irregularities, fraud or  breach of obligations have  actually occurred. The contracting authority must  formally notify  the contractor of the suspension and the reasons for it.  Suspension takes effect on the date of  formal notification , or at a later date if the  formal notification so provides. The contracting authority must  notify  the contractor as soon as the verification is completed whether:  (a) it is lifting the suspension; or  (b) it intends to terminate the contract under Article II.18.1(f) or (j).  The contractor is not entitled to compensation for suspension of any part of the contract.  The contracting authority may in addition suspend the time allowed for payments in accordance with  Article II.21.7.  II.18 TERMINATION OF THE CONTRACT  II.18.1 Grounds for termination by the contracting authority  The contracting authority may terminate the contract in the following circumstances:  (a) if provision of the services under the contract has not actually started within 15 days of the  scheduled date and the contracting authority considers that the new date proposed, if any,  unacceptable, taking into account Article II.11.2;  (b) if the contractor is unable, through its own fault, to obtain any permit or licence required for  performance of the contract ;  (c) if the contractor does not perform the contract in accordance with the tender specifications or  is in breach of another substantial contractual obligation. (d) if the contractor or any person that assumes unlimited liability for the debts of the contractor  is in one of the situations provided for in points (a) and (b) of Article 136(1) of the Financial  Regulation 21 ;  (e) if the contractor or any  related person  is in one of the situations provided for in points (c) to  (h) of Article 136(1) or to Article 136(2) of the Financial Regulation.  (f) if the procedure for awarding the contract or the  performance of the contract  prove to have  been subject to  irregularities, fraud  or  breach of obligations ;  (g) if the contractor does not comply with applicable obligations under environmental, social and  labour law established by Union law, national law, collective agreements or by the international  environmental, social and labour law provisions listed in Annex X to Directive 2014/24/EU; (h) if the contractor is in a situation that could constitute a  conflict of interest  or a  professional  conflicting interest  as referred to in Article II.7; 21 Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 on the financial  rules applicable to the general budget of the Union, amending Regulations (EU) No 1296/2013, (EU) No 1301/2013, (EU) No  1303/2013, (EU) No 1304/2013, (EU) No 1309/2013, (EU) No 1316/2013, (EU) No 223/2014, (EU) No 283/2014, and Decision  No 541/2014/EU and repealing Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012, OJ L 193 of 30.7.2018, p.1 https://eur- lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1544791836334&uri=CELEX:32018R1046  29 