Evaluation SeminarEvaluation SeminarCzech Republic CSF and OP Czech Republic CSF and OP

Managing AuthoritiesManaging Authorities

Session 5: Ex-Ante Evaluation and Lisbon Strategy

Presentation Structure

Ex-Ante Evaluation Background and draft regulation

Evaluation stages and key issues Analysis of investment needs National Strategic Reference Framework Operational Programmes

Lisbon Strategy Main elements Lisbon and Cohesion Policy

Conclusions

Ex-Ante Evaluation: Background

Proposed Regulation from Commission Article 46 Ex-Ante requirements

National Strategic Reference Framework Operational Programmes

Evaluation Plan also required in NSRF

Evaluation Stages

Ex-Ante evaluation needed at 3 stages To help identify investment needs NSRF (regulation) Operational programmes (regulation)

Process needs to be organised in integrated way

With ex-ante inputs helping planning and programming process

Stage 1: Identification of Investment Needs

Evaluation not a requirement for this purpose But could help formulate NSRF and OPs

Objective would be to identify main investment priorities and provide an independent, non-Ministry view

Needs to be done soon And by independent organisation

Investment Needs

Key issues for TOR Assessment of current economic situation

and outlook SWOT analysis Identification of constraints and problems What are the market failures? Can public/EU investment adress these?

Lisbon Strategy should be explicit focus

How did we do this in Ireland?

High level NDP objectives decided at early stage Then commissioned independent evaluation of needs

in early 1998 Carried out by ESRI, independent body Separate from other stages in ex-ante process

Evaluators reviewed Ministry submissions Report made recommendations on investment

levels in NDP Completed in advance of Plan drafting Report a key input to NDP

NSRF Evaluation

Article 46 (2), ex-ante evaluation of NSFR assess impact of intervention proposed coherence with

Community guidelines National and regional priorities

Commission will produce guidance Earlier SWOT evaluation will help Could be done by same organisation?

OP Evaluation Article 46 (3)

Evaluation required for each OP Aim is “to optimise resources and improve

programme quality” Policy Issues

Coherence Consistency with EU policy and with NSRF

Implementation issues Quality of procedures Monitoring, evaluation, financial control

Who should do these? NSRF evaluator or separate OP evaluator

Lisbon: What is it?

March 2000, EU leaders set 2010 objective “EU to become the most dynamic and competitive

knowledge-based economy in the world capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion and respect for the environment”

Currently under review Kok report (Nov 2004) Mid-Term Review at Spring 2005 Council

Lisbon and Cohesion Policy

Commission wants Cohesion Policy to support Lisbon agenda

Instruments Community Strategic Guidelines to be

adopted by Council Then NSRF submitted by member states

NSRF and ex-ante evaluation will have to address Lisbon agenda

Lisbon Priorities

Lisbon agenda has widened “Lisbon is about everthing and thus about nothing”

(Kok report) Kok focuses on key policy areas

Knowledge society (R&D) Internal market Business climate Labour market Environmental sustainability

Lisbon Priorities and Cohesion Policy

Internal market not relevant to cohesion policy

Business climate of limited relevance Risk capital availability

Cohesion policy and 2007 –2013 programmes can contribute in other areas

Knowledge Society

Key areas of relevance Raising R&D investment Broadband accessibility

Can be directly targeted in OPs But caution needed

Is there a market failure? that R&D money can be spent Focus on basic research

Labour Market

Key Lisbon objective: raise employment rate in EU Cohesion policy of high relevance

Significant investment possibilities in OPs Improving education and training systems Reconciling work and family life (Childcare) Reducing early school-leaving Lifelong learning (older workers) Training in companies

Good case for investment in these areas But need to be sure that money can be spent

Environmental Sustainability

Idea is to make environment part of Europe’s competitive advantage

And embed environment in growth Some investment possibilities

Environmentally friendly transport Renewable energy Promoting eco-efficient innovations

Are these priority issues for Czech Republic?

Conclusions

Lisbon agenda will have to be addressed in NSRF Ex-Ante Evaluation

Should be explicit focus of TOR for ex-ante evaluation of investment needs and NSFR

Highly relevant to a number of areas Labour market Knowledge economy Environment

Conclusions

Lisbon agenda is broad and in a state of flux Most investments can be justified under Lisbon

But Lisbon must be balanced with key challenges/priorities for Czech Republic

Other important considerations Is there a market failure? Would other instruments work better? Need to avoid high-risk areas because of N+2 Can money be absorbed and spent effectively?

Ex-Ante must consider these