Evaluation of IPA Cross Border Cooperation Programmes 2007 - 2013 : Final Evaluation Report

Evaluation of IPA Cross Border Co-operation Programmes 2007-2013. This evaluation examines the performance of the Instrument of Pre-accession Assistance 2007-2013 (IPA I) in financing cross-border cooperation (CBC) among the 7 countries of the Western Balkans through 11 programmes with a total EU allocation of almost €100 million. The objective is to draw lessons for the implementation of the 2014-2020 programmes (IPA II). The assessment was based on seven criteria (relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, sustainability, coherence and value added), framed as 27 evaluation questions. The report finds the CBC programmes emphasised sustainable socio-economic development, reflecting well the challenges faced by border communities. However, the wide scope of funding priorities and project selection, and weak synergies with other initiatives, diluted the effect of the programmes. It is not feasible to measure rigorously the combined programme outcomes and impact in the absence of effective monitoring and reporting systems. As a pioneering initiative, however, CBC under IPA I helped promote good neighbourly relations between the participating countries and contributed to the socio-economic development of border areas, which would not have happened without EU support. The report concludes with 40 recommendations for the immediate to medium term, covering programme management, technical assistance and the performance framework, and planning for CBC in 2021-2027.