Ex post evaluation of Cohesion Policy programmes 2007-2013, focusing on the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund (CF)

Summary:

This report synthesises the results of the ex post evaluation of the Cohesion policy programmes financed from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund. The central aim of the evaluation was to answer three main questions:

• How was the funding provided spent in regions across the EU?
• What were the results and how far did they contribute to Cohesion policy goals?
• What are the lessons for the future design and conduct of Cohesion policy?

This summary, firstly, sets out the objectives of the policy over the period and the context in which it was implemented. Secondly, it indicates the scale of funding and its division between different parts of the EU and policy areas. Thirdly, it outlines the approach adopted to the evaluation. Fourthly, it assesses the extent to which policy achieved its objectives. Fifthly, it draws out the lessons to be learned and their implications for future policy.