The role of evaluation in shaping the EU regional policy: three EU regions compared

(Monika Mura, University of Bristol)

Evaluation is a mandatory requirement of the EU socio-economic cohesion policy. This is an aspect that received minor consideration in the literature on the EU regional policy. However, it by no means plays a central role in the effective implementation of the development programmes, particularly in the 2000-2006 cycle of programming.

A definition of what evaluation exactly is will be first provided, as there are several misunderstandings around this concept. Evaluation is not mere academic research, but a judgment expressed over the work of a government, providing a set of recommendations for further improvements. For this reason in those countries new to this practice some resistance to the findings arose, especially when they are negative and might affect their political credibility. As a consequence findings may be not included in the policy-making process.

This paper will investigate the reasons for this resistance, and in particular whether or not the opposition is due only to the nature of evaluation or to a general attitude towards the EU requirements. The analysis will be conducted on regions selected from three countries new to evaluation: Italy, Spain and Ireland, and although will recall their past experience, the main focus will be on the 2003 evaluation.