The detailed allocations to Regular Observing proposals will be determined per observing period in part on scientific merit, and in part at the discretion of the national consortia:

• The national consortia will determine the detailed distribution of their previously committed "must-sponsor" reserved access for the period to Regular Observing proposals under the relevant umbrella Reserved Access proposals.
• If at that stage they have committed less than 67% of their total shares for the period as "must-sponsor", the national consortia will be allowed to make up the difference with further "must-sponsor" access for any Regular Observing proposals, regardless of affiliation or umbrella.
• As destination for the remainder of their reserved access shares (this being 50%-33% of their total for the period), the national consortia will make a "may-sponsor" list with any Regular Observing proposals they prefer: only those on their list will get any of their national access shares, but the distribution of access within that list is determined by the PC, based on their assessment of overall science productivity and efficiency of LOFAR. With their ‘may-sponsor' list the consortia are required to over-allocate their total shares for the period by at least 33% to provide the flexibility so that the procedure can work.
• Finally, the LOFAR Open Skies access will be distributed by the PC to Regular Observing proposals based on their assessment of overall science productivity and efficiency of LOFAR, without any regard to affiliation or national involvement.