WRITTEN QUESTION E-2241/01

by Samuli Pohjamo (ELDR) and Mikko Pesälä (ELDR) to the Commission

(26 July 2001)

Subject: Need to develop assessment instruments for the EU structural funds

In our view there are shortcomings in the assessment, follow-up and monitoring of structural fund projects, because no common and comparable assessment instruments or output quality indicators have been developed.

In particular there is a need for both quantitative and qualitative assessment instruments for employment, social and health projects.

Those responsible for implementing projects often regard the bureaucracy as excessive. However, they do not posses sufficient information and/or skill to create standardised assessment instruments themselves.

If quality criteria are adopted at monitoring level, this may thanks to more precise assessment improve the final result of the project. In the same way these criteria can improve the delimitation of projects and, at a later stage, the exploitation of the results.

What does the Commission propose to do in terms of creating both assessment instruments and quality indicators?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(12 October 2001)

Monitoring, evaluation and control are essential elements of the management of programmes supported by the European Union under the Structural Funds. The regulatory requirements in these fields have been strengthened in successive programming periods.

For the 1994-1999 period, programming documents contain monitoring indicators, at programme, sub-programme and measure level. Information on these indicators is either gathered at project level or at a more aggregated level (in particular macro-economic indicators). The indicators are, in general, established at regional or national level rather than at Community level because of the diversity of actions undertaken across regions and Member States. The assessment of the effectiveness and impact of Structural Fund interventions must also take account of the contexts in which they take place, and it is therefore considered inappropriate for the Commission to impose uniform indicators and methodologies to every situation.

For the current period, 2000-2006, the requirements have been reinforced, notably in the Council Regulation (EC) no1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds, in particular in Article 36 (monitoring), chapter III (evaluation) and chapter IV (the performance reserve).

The Commission has also taken practical steps to improve the quality of monitoring, evaluation and control.

For example:

- Working documents and evaluation handbooks have been developed. These provide methodological guidance on developing appropriate indicators and on how to measure the effectiveness and impact of expenditure;

- The organisation of exchanges of experiences between implementing authorities via seminars and regular meetings. These events address both evaluation experts and operational managers of programmes;

- Advice and support for the authorities in the Member States in the preparation of the programmes.

These activities cover all sectors, including employment, social affairs and health. The work in this field is ongoing and the Commission will continue to seek to introduce improvements in the years ahead.