Ex Post evaluation of a sample of projects co-financed by the Cohesion Fund (1993-2002). Synthesis Report. Final Report

Summary:

The Cohesion Fund was established in 1993 under the terms of the Treaty on European Union. It is intended to strengthen the economic and social cohesion of the European Union. Its aim is to help the least prosperous Member States of the European Union to be able to fully participate in the Economic and Monetary Union from 1999 onwards. The eligibility criterion is that the GNP per capita is 90% or less that of the EU average. During the period under evaluation four Member States benefited from the Cohesion Fund - Ireland, Spain, Portugal and Greece.

The Cohesion Fund has committed more than € 16 billion during the period 1993-1999. For the programming period 2000-2006 the European Council has agreed to invest an additional € 18 billion through the Cohesion Fund. The present report gives the results of the ex post evaluation of a sample of 200 project co-financed by the Cohesion Fund in the period 1993-2002.