Ex-ante evaluation and Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Regional Operational Programme Ionian Islands 2014-2020

The ex ante evaluation represents the procedure through which several estimations and recommendations are provided by the Contractor towards the responsible authorities, regarding the content of the Programme.

The ex ante evaluation (ex-ante) of the ROP of Ionian Islands 2014-2020 will be prepared under the guidelines from the Ministry of Development, Competitiveness, Infrastructure, Transport and Networks and based on EU guidelines and related documents such as: ‘’The programming period 2014-2020. Monitoring and evaluation of European Cohesion Policy. ERDF,ESF,CF. Guidance document on ex-ante evaluation’’ and other documents.
The new framework and the new requirements focus on the operational use of the ex ante evaluation, which is required to have a substantial contribution to the appropriate and successful planning of the Programme.

• Consistency: Consistency in the context of 2014-2020 programming means that the programme specific objectives are aligned with the identified challenges and needs in relation to the Europe 2020 strategy and that they are given an appropriate weight in the programme.
• Coherence: The ex ante evaluation should examine "the internal coherence of the proposed programme or activity and its relation with other relevant instruments" (external coherence)
• Each priority axis shall "set out indicators to assess progress of programme implementation towards achievement of objectives as the basis for monitoring, evaluation and review of performance". These indicators shall include common indicators as laid down by Fund-specific rules
• The evaluators should examine whether the financial allocations concentrate on the most important objectives in line with the identified challenges and needs and with the concentration requirements set out in the Regulations (Article 16 CPR and Article 4 ESF Regulation).
• The evaluators should appraise the "contribution of the programme to the Europe 2020 strategy, having regard to the selected thematic objectives and priorities, taking into account national and regional needs". In addition to verifying the consistency of the programme with the Europe 2020 strategy, the intervention logic and the intended results, the evaluators should assess to what extent the programme is likely to contribute to the strategy's objectives and targets.
• The Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive (2001/42/EC) (SEA Directive) requires Member States to assess the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment. Article 48(4) CPR lays down that "the ex ante evaluation shall incorporate, where appropriate, the requirements for the Strategic Environmental Assessment".
• The SEA includes the preparation of an environmental report as well as consultations and revisions after consultation and submission.