PSI current research

Evaluation of the Contribution of the Structural Funds to Sustainable Development

Project Leader: Paul Ekins

Sponsor: European Commission, through sub-contract to GHK International

Period: January 2002 - September 2002

Background and aims

The aim of the project is to assist in integrating sustainable development (SD) objectives into the European Commission's regional policy objectives, through improvement in the design and delivery of Objective 1 and 2 Programmes and selected Community Initiatives, funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), part of the EU Structural Funds (SF). Sustainable development is already a horizontal priority for SF programmes but there is a desire to improve the contribution of SF to the achievement of SD objectives.

The evaluation has the following specific objectives:

• To develop methods, indicators and approaches for the evaluation of regional SD, particularly through the development of a '4-capitals' evaluation model;
• To identify ways throughout the delivery systems for SF to generate better projects promoting SD; and
• To identify the main policy trade-offsbeing made in regional development policies either explicitly or implicitly.

Project Design

The project will use a range of methods including:

• Desk research, to review the content of CSF, OPs and SPD, Monitoring Committee reports, thematic evaluations and the ex ante, interim and final evaluation work for the programming period 1994-1999.
• Construction of an indicator set for the assessment of the changes in capital in the assisted (and where feasible in comparative non-programme regions.
• Econometric modelling for the assessment at EU level of the economic impact of the SF.
• Development of a proforma for the assessment of objectives and priority measures, to be applied by each of the regional/national teams. Each proforma will enable the key characteristics of the measure to be identified: costs, timescale objectives, target groups, distinctive local characteristics, monitoring indicators, monitoring results, implementation aspects etc.
• Stakeholder interviews and co-operative meetings with managing authorities.

Importance of Research

The sponsor has indicated that the resulting evaluation will be used:

• To provide tools and methodologies which can assist regions, Member States and the EU in assessing the sustainability of their development plans;
• To enhance the sustainability of the SF programmes in the 2000-2006 period, for example in the context of the mid-term programme reviews; and
• In the preparation of SF policies beyond 2006.

These are clearly important uses for the promotion of sustainable development in the European Union generally, and especially in the Applicant Countries which will receive the bulk of SF funding after 2006.