Mid-term Evaluation of the first phase of the implementation of the EU - CoE Programmatic Cooperation Framework in the Eastern Partnership Countries : Executive Summary

The Mid-Term Evaluation of the first phase of the implementation of the European Union–Council of Europe Programmatic Cooperation Framework (PCF) in the Eastern Partnership Countries was conducted from July 2016 to January 2017. The findings of the evaluation are presented in the current report. As the feedback from national and international stakeholders consulted for the evaluation demonstrates, the Programmatic Cooperation Framework is regarded as an initiative of considerable importance. It addresses a range of key challenges faced by the countries of the Eastern Partnership region, providing a united response by the European Union and Council of Europe, promoting European values and adherence to European standards. In some aspects, the Council of Europe, via PCF, is the key, or indeed sole, international organisation providing this response at this critical juncture. It is therefore crucial that the PCF performs effectively, and that its results can be clearly established and measured. The report demonstrates that, while there are signs of achievement, the current approach to the implementation and reporting of PCF activities does not allow for accurate assessment of achievement against the intended targets. Improvements are needed in the application of Results-Based Management in PCF.