First Phase Evaluation of the INTERREG V-A Hungary-Croatia Programme (2014-2020)

2018 was the year of First Phase (earlier: mid-term) evaluation of the cooperation programmes. In February 2018, the Managing Authority of the INTERREG V-A Hungary-Croatia Cooperation Programme (operated that time in the Prime Minister’s Office of Hungary) invited the Central European Service for Cross-Border Initiatives (CESCI) to carry out the evaluation of the present programme.

In line with the evaluation plan of the programme, the document, finished in 2019, focused on

• programme management and implementation (overall picture, guidelines, development needs, procedures, IMIS, simplification, partnership principle, risks, de-commitment)
• project application, selection procedures (quality, successful and weak projects, applicants’ difficulties and assistance given, horizontal principles)
• communication strategy (communication activities, tools, impacts).

The key findings of the evaluation:

1. The cooperation programme has a fundamental role in cross-border cooperation between the two countries
2. Weak cross-border character of the programme
3. The belated delivery of the IMIS system caused problems in programme implementation
4. Good results in simplification
5. Communication is improving
6. The programme management is assessed good
7. The Croatian accession to the EU has a positive balance

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