The first stage of the ex ante evaluation begins with the appraisal of the assessment of needs including the SWOT. The SWOT analysis of the current situation forms the evidence basis for the assessment of needs. The assessment of needs serves as the basis for setting up the intervention strategy and for designing the interventions of the CAP Strategic Plan.
Therefore, the ex ante evaluator should ensure at an early stage that the foundation of the future intervention strategy is comprehensive, takes into account particular requirements for CAP specific objectives and provides an overall and evidence-based picture of the current situation of the area covered by the CAP Strategic Plan.
The logical path of the first stages of the ex ante evaluation is presented in the figure bellow:
The scope and tasks of the ex ante evaluation are specified in the legal proposal for the CAP Strategic Plan, regulation (COM/2018/392 final), Article 125.
The assessment areas covered in the following sections include: