First Phase Evaluation of the INTERREG IPA Cross-border Cooperation Programme Hungary-Serbia

2018 was the year of First Phase (earlier: mid-term) evaluation of the cooperation programmes. In February, the Managing Authority of the Interreg–IPA Cross-border Cooperation Programme Hungary–Serbia, with the agreement of the Serbian National Authority, invited the CESCI to carry out the evaluation of the present programme. The evaluation was approved by the Joint Monitoring Committee on 07 October 2019.

In line with the evaluation plan of the programme, the document focuses on:

• programme management and implementation,
• calls, selection procedures,
• Communication Strategy.

The key findings of the evaluation

1. Negative impacts of the external border on the level of cross-border integration
2. Increasing significance of the CP in terms of cross-border integration
3. The territorial coverage of the programme is to be improved
4. The selection of priorities is not assessed necessarily positive
5. The programme implementation has been slowed down by the problems with IMIS and the institutional changes
6. The cooperation between the programme management bodies and with the beneficiaries is exemplary

CESCI has extended the evaluation document also with a list of recommendations to develop the procedures and practices.

The original news on the programme’s website: http://www.interreg-ipa-husrb.com/en/downloads-menu/operational-evaluation-evaluation-of-efficiency-and-effectiveness-of-the-programme/