The general objective of the ex-post evaluation of Cohesion Policy programmes 2014–2020 – Work Package 12 – was to assess the extent to which the objectives of the EU’s responses to the crisis were achieved. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine affected Europe’s trajectory and exacerbated vulnerabilities across many regions and societal groups. By introducing a wide range of flexibilities and establishing specific crisis instruments, Cohesion Policy enabled Member States and regions to react quickly and effectively to the effects of the pandemic and the war in neighbouring Ukraine.

Work Package 12 of the ex-post evaluation of Cohesion Policy programmes 2014–2020 aimed to take stock of the adjustments made to the Cohesion Policy regulatory framework and programme implementation, and to assess the extent to which the objectives of the crisis instruments were achieved. It provided an assessment of the uptake of crisis instruments by Member States, reviewed the measures selected, and examined the impact on the overall implementation of programmes. The evaluation also assessed the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, and EU added value of the crisis instruments, and identified lessons learned for strengthening resilience in the face of future crises.

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