The ex-post evaluation of Cohesion Policy programmes 2014–2020 – Work Package 12 – examined how effectively the EU’s crisis-related objectives were achieved. The COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine significantly altered Europe’s trajectory, deepening existing vulnerabilities across regions and social groups. Through extensive flexibilities and dedicated crisis instruments, Cohesion Policy enabled Member States and regions to respond rapidly and effectively to these shocks.

Work Package 12 reviewed the adjustments introduced in the regulatory framework and in programme implementation, assessed the uptake and use of crisis instruments, and analysed how these measures influenced overall programme delivery. It evaluated their relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, and EU added value, and drew lessons to help strengthen resilience in future crises.

t33 was responsible for analysing the delivery mechanisms and implementation of CRII/CRII+ and REACT-EU, as well as conducting the case study on SMEs.

The publications are available here
- Final report
- Country fiches
- Case studies
 

The study was led by Spatial Foresight GmbH, in consortium with t33, OIR GmbH and wiiw - Wiener Institut für Internationale Wirtschaftsvergleiche.