Evaluation of public interventions at regional level; the new evidence for actual programming period

Within the European Union, the impact of structural funds is evaluated periodically with the purpose of identifying the attainment degree of the convergence objectives and the efficiency in implementing the cohesion and regional development policy. The regional policy, assimilated in general to a public intervention at territorial level is evaluated in certain stages of implementation for learning about the whole change obtained as result of the actions and measures realised with the purpose of attaining the established objectives (for instance, diminishing inter- and intraregional disparities, balanced economic and social development, employment, output and consumption growth, improving social, transport, environmental, tourism and education infrastructure, etc.). Irrespective of the stage to which it refers, evaluation is based on the spatial analysis techniques and methods presented in the previous chapter, its outcomes being useful for improving the decisional process. Actual regulations for regional programme require central authorities to carry out evaluations which assess the effects of structural interventions. This is an essential element of the strengthened results-focus of the policy. The evaluation plans are therefore strategic documents setting out how these evaluations will be organised in order to provide evidence on effects for policy making.