Territorial Impact Assessment for Cross-Border Cooperation

Programme 2014 - 2020 ESPON 2020

Date of latest update: 2024-05-18

Description

Description (EN):

To date, there is no elaborated territorial impact assessment methodology/model that has proven to be well-suited for assessing the ex-post impacts of CBC programmes. The service provider will develop a step-by-step methodology, describing how to determine the ex-post impact of cross-border cooperation (CBC) programmes on the territorial development of the border regions. A test of the methodology will also be performed in five stakeholder territories by providing evidence on how the elaborated methodology works in practice. It is foreseen that mostly 2007 – 2013 programming period data will be used. This targeted analysis will primarily focus on the following five INTERREG A programmes: 1.Germany – the Netherlands, 2.Sweden – Norway, 3.Romania – Bulgaria, 4. United Kingdom - Ireland (Ireland-Northern Ireland-Scotland), 5.Spain-Portugal (POCTEP). The objective of this activity is to develop and test a methodology specifically tailored to assess ex-post territorial impacts of CBC programmes. The methodology will allow policy makers and practitioners to obtain evidence on the territorial impact of CBC programmes and help on developing better-informed cross-border policies. The activity will also improve understanding of the data needs to carry out ex-post territorial impact assessment of CBC programmes.

Achievements (EN):

The ESPON CBC TIA project has applied a newly developed ex-post TIA methodology tailored to CBC programmes to five CBC programmes within the framework of its case studies. Comparison of the results of case studies suggests a number of interesting conclusions regarding the investigated programmes. The five CBC programmes, Germany – The Netherlands, Sweden – Norway, Romania – Bulgaria, Spain – Portugal (POCTEP), United Kingdom – Ireland (Ireland – Northern Ireland, Ireland – Scotland) are very diverse in terms of geographical and thematic coverage. However, there is a number of overlapping thematic objectives (innovation, labour mobility, cros-border governance and administrative capacity, cross-border transport and mobility) which allows examining the similarities in the strength of the impact of the CBC programmes. Case studies revealed that some CBC programmes experience higher impacts in areas in which other programmes register a rather lower or average impact. For example, Romania – Bulgaria and POCTEP programmes noted higher impact in the area of cultural and natural heritage while the Sweden – Norway programme observed a rather weak impact. Similarities can be found in CBC programmes’ positive impact on cross-border cohesion and governance which has been the case for Germany – The Netherlands and POCTEP, as well as in impact on innovation which was qualitatively assessed as positive in case of four programmes (Sweden – Norway, United Kingdom – Ireland, Germany – The Netherlands and POCTEP). Moreover, in terms of impact on different territories within the CBC programmes, no similarities were identified. Some case studies could not produce a territorial differentiation either for the whole programme area or some part of it or noted a differentiated territorial impact (Germany – The Netherlands and POCTEP), either due to lacking data or due to the fact that such differentiation was not sensible given the impact of the programme. Other programmes identified slightly higher impact in more economically developed areas (Romania – Bulgaria), others noted higher impact in urban areas (Sweden – Norway) or in rural areas (United Kingdom – Ireland). These findings suggest that the impact of CBC programmes cannot be taken for granted. Despite modest funding, CBC programmes can significantly contribute to important areas such as cross-border innovation by creating links between actors. On the other hand, despite the obvious cooperative nature of these programmes, they may also find difficulties in creating impact in areas which would seem easy to address. The variety of thematic priorities addressed as well as differing results regarding the strength of impact in case of similar thematic areas confirm the diversity in structure and type impact of CBC programmes. Given the fact that CBC programmes registered a different magnitude of impact in case of similar thematic areas suggests that there are many factors that contribute to the strength of the impact of CBC programmes and go beyond the inherent nature of these programmes. Next to the programme performance, likely significant factors should be sought in the socio-economic background as well as the current context of the programme area. The importance of an ex-ante intervention logic The intervention logic is a necessary tool for programming not only INTERREG programmes but any ESIF programme. Programming along the intervention logic helps select appropriate indicators that are most suitable for measuring the effects envisaged. For this reason, the application of this tool in an ex-ante setting is essential. A well established causal chain linking programme area needs with the programme's measures and its effects is a prerequisite for targeting programme impacts. In the ESPON CBC TIA project, the concept of intervention logic was used in an ex-post manner. While the initial set-up of intervention logics is essential for targeting measures to bring about desired effects (based on identified needs), revisiting and reconstructing them in any later evaluation or assessment is key to identifying unintended effects and actual – not desired – programme impacts. Nevertheless, in the pilot tests of the ex-post TIA methodology, it became obvious that there are several shortcomings in the application of the intervention logic during the programming phase. The lack of intervention logic as guidance in programming and implementation was mostly manifested in the inappropriateness of selected indicators. One step of the ESPON CBC TIA project was the selection of appropriate indicators for measurement of programme impacts. The pool of available indicators included programme result indicators; however, experts were forced to drop several such indicators. The reconstructed intervention logics showed that some key effects were not covered by any result indicators selected by programmes and result indicators often could not deliver any meaningful or relevant information on programme impact. These judgements were verified not only by programme stakeholders themselves but also by thematic and regional experts. Such inappropriateness of indicators can be mitigated by programming along the intervention logic. Setting up an intervention logic following a needs – measures – effects – indicators logical chain is a key recommendation for improvement of programme design as it helps to target the needed effects and impacts. In addition, it shall result in the identification of appropriate indicators which will allow more accurate monitoring. In such a scenario necessary arrangements in the monitoring system can be made, which subsequently enable any impact assessment or evaluation to work with data geared specifically to the programme.

Website: https://archive.espon.eu/

Expected Results (EN):

The objective of this activity is to develop and test a methodology specifically tailored to assess ex-post territorial impacts of CBC programmes. Such a methodology would allow policy makers and practitioners to obtain evidence on the impact of CBC programmes to develop better-informed CB policies. It would also improve understanding of the data needs to be able to carry out territorial impact assessment of CBC programmes. More concretely, the objective of this activity is to satisfy the stakeholders’ knowledge needs as defined below:- What is the ex-post territorial impact of CBC programmes on border regions?- What is the best way to measure territorial impact of CBC programmes? What kind of indicators and methodologies or tools are needed to do that?- What data is needed about cross-border regions to be able to carry out territorial impact assessment of CBC programmes? What data should be collected at EU, national, regional or programme level in the future?- What is needed to be able to make comparisons on territorial impact of CBC programmes across CBC programmes (benchmarking)?- How to communicate and use the results of TIA to improve the design of CBC programmes and policies on CB regions in general?The main outcomes of the service should be:- An overview of existing ex-post and ex-ante territorial impact assessment methodologies and the way these methodologies can be applied to evaluate ex-post impact of the CBC programmes on territorial development of border regions.- A step-by-step methodology describing how to determine the ex-post impact of any CBC programme on territorial development of border regions. Where needed a description how to adjust the methodology given the particular territorial structure of the CBC programmes.- Evidence (collected data, maps and a set of indicators) on the ex-post territorial impact of the 5 CBC programmes mentioned in section 1.1. The TIA can be based on data of the previous programming period(s). In addition, (first) data of the 2014-2020 programming period or other available information can be used. The choice of data (mix) needs to be justified. - Proposal on how (and to whom) to communicate and utilize the results of TIA for better design of CBC programmes.

Thematic information

Evaluation systems and results Regional planning and development

Specific Objective: Upgraded knowledge transfer and use of analytical user support

Thematic Objective:

(11) enhancing institutional capacity of public authorities and stakeholders and efficient public administration through actions to strengthen the institutional capacity and the efficiency of public administrations and public services related to the implementation of the ERDF, and in support of actions under the ESF to strengthen the institutional capacity and the efficiency of public administration.

Investment Priority: (11 ETC) ETC specific for transnational cooperation: enhancing institutional capacity of public authorities and stakeholders and efficient public administration by developing and coordinating macro-regional and sea-basin strategies

Partners (8)

Lead Partner: ÖIR GmbH

Address: Franz-Jesefs-Kai 27, A-1010 Vienna, Austria

Legal status: private

M and E Factory Ltd.

Name: M and E Factory Ltd.

Address: 1 Pop Bogomil Str., office 17, 1202 Sofia, Bulgaria

Legal status: private

Maastricht University

Name: Maastricht University

Address: PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Nordregio

Name: Nordregio

Address: Box 1658. SE-111 86Stockholm, Sweden

Legal status: public

Red2Red Consultores S.L.

Name: Red2Red Consultores S.L.

Address: Calle María Pedraza 30, 3rd floor, 28039 Madrid, Spain

Legal status: private

University College Dublin

Name: University College Dublin

Address: Dublin 4 Belfield, Ireland

Legal status: public

University of Liverpool

Name: University of Liverpool

Address: 765 Brownlow Hill, L69 7ZX Liverpool, United Kingdom

Legal status: public

blue! advancing european projects GbR

Name: blue! advancing european projects GbR

Address: Brienner Strasse 48, Hofgebäude 2, 80333 Munich, Germany

Legal status: private

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Öir GmbH

Territorial Impact Assessment for Cross-Border Cooperation

Partners and Projects info

M and E Factory Ltd.

Territorial Impact Assessment for Cross-Border Cooperation

Partners and Projects info

Maastricht University

Territorial Impact Assessment for Cross-Border Cooperation

Partners and Projects info

Nordregio

Territorial Impact Assessment for Cross-Border Cooperation

Partners and Projects info

Red2Red Consultores S.L.

Territorial Impact Assessment for Cross-Border Cooperation

Partners and Projects info

Territorial Impact Assessment for Cross-Border Cooperation

Partners and Projects info

University of Liverpool

Territorial Impact Assessment for Cross-Border Cooperation

Partners and Projects info

blue! advancing european projects GbR

Territorial Impact Assessment for Cross-Border Cooperation

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Territorial Impact Assessment for Cross-Border Cooperation

Project acronym: TIA CBC

Project start date: 2018-04-16

Project end date: 2019-09-12

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 283 429.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 231 761.03

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 231 761.03.

Documents

Documents on this project are listed below, and organised by category. Please note field "Data source", attached to each document. Keep.eu users are free to use these documents as long as they mention the data source and keep.eu.

Videos / films

Roman Seidl: Territorial Impact Assessment for cross-border cooperation

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.espon.eu/TIA-CBC

Publication date: 2021-02-28

Document date: 2019-07-08

Languages: en

Reports

Targeted Analysis - Synthesis Report

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://www.espon.eu/TIA-CBC

Publication date: 2021-02-28

Document date: 2019-08-19

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Targeted Analysis - Final Report

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://www.espon.eu/TIA-CBC

Publication date: 2021-02-28

Document date: 2019-08-19

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Targeted Analysis - Scientific Annex

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://www.espon.eu/TIA-CBC

Publication date: 2021-02-28

Document date: 2019-08-19

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Brochures / magazines / manuals

Targeted Analysis - CBC TIA Handbook

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Brochure / magazine / manual

Data source: https://www.espon.eu/TIA-CBC

Publication date: 2021-02-28

Document date: 2019-08-19

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2014 - 2020 ESPON 2020

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2024-03-04

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

68 / 69 (98.55%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

353 / 370 (95.41%)

Notes on the data

Information provided by the Programme. Data from 3 projects ((MRS. ESPON TOOL, SoET and CPS 2.0) was retrieved by Interact from the programme´s website on the 2024-03-01. Regarding partners only data only main partners is available. Achievements were retrieved by Interact from the Programme website (http://www.espon.eu), or a website directly linked from it, on 2021-09-21 and 2023-01-03.

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Territorial Impact Assessment for Cross-Border Cooperation

Description

Thematic information

Partners (8)

Partners map

Summary

Documents

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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