The Scope
The evaluations focused on programmes spanning Greece and its neighboring countries, including Cyprus, Albania, and North Macedonia (FYROM), with a common goal of enhancing regional cooperation, economic growth, and sustainable development.
The evaluations were structured around:
- The INTERREG Greece-Cyprus Programme.
- The INTERREG Greece-Albania Programme.
- The INTERREG FYROM Programme.
Each evaluation was tailored to address the unique objectives and implementation contexts of the respective programme while providing insights into their collective performance and impact. The overarching goal was to assess the programmes’ overall performance and alignment with their strategic objectives. The evaluations addressed key issues such as:
- Design and Strategy Consistency: Reviewing SWOT analyses and socioeconomic contexts to evaluate the coherence and relevance of the programmes' strategies.
- Effectiveness and Efficiency: Measuring the success in achieving stated objectives and the efficiency of programme implementation.
- Stakeholder and Cross-Border Impact: Evaluating stakeholder engagement, added cross-border value, and collaboration outcomes.
- Publicity and Communication: Analysing communication strategies to assess public awareness and outreach success.
Evaluation Approach
- INTERREG Greece-Cyprus
- Mid-Implementation Evaluation: Critical assessment of progress, focusing on effectiveness, performance frameworks, and timeliness of strategies.
- Evaluation Topics: Effectiveness, efficiency, preparation for impact assessments, and communication strategy.
- Methods Used: Literature review, statistical analysis, SWOT analysis, surveys, interviews, and relevance matrix.
- INTERREG Greece-Albania
- Programme Design and Implementation Evaluation: Similar to the Greece-Cyprus evaluation, focusing on documented answers to programme performance, stakeholder contributions, and cross-border added value.
- INTERREG FYROM
- Comprehensive Study: Assessment of strategy consistency, expected results, and programme impact.
- Environmental Focus: Detailed analysis of potential environmental effects, including impacts on biodiversity, climate, and cultural heritage.
These evaluations marked a pivotal step in identifying strengths and uncovering opportunities to refine cross-border programmes for lasting impact.
Driving Regional Cooperation Forward
The evaluations provided critical insights that underscore the value of these programmes in advancing regional development and cooperation. The evaluation showed cased that the alignment of strategies with regional priorities allowed the initiatives to achieve significant milestones while identifying areas for refinement, such as enhancing efficiency and timeliness. Cross-border collaboration emerged as a key strength, particularly in highlighting the transformative impact of stakeholder partnerships. Moreover, the work of the evaluator highlighted the importance of improving communication strategies to enhance public engagement and maximize the programmes' overall impact. These insights, provided by the evaluation team proved instrumental in shaping more effective and impactful cross-border initiatives.
These evaluations provided actionable insights into the performance and strategic alignment of the INTERREG programmes. By addressing design, implementation, and impact, the findings contributed to the continuous improvement of regional development efforts and highlighted the importance of robust cross-border collaboration
