This guidance document is aimed at national, regional and local authorities in charge of programming 2007-2013 Community structural interventions and specifically at those responsible for organising evaluation. It provides guidance which will also be of use for the evaluators who are appointed to carry out the evaluations.
The working paper clarifies, in an indicative way, the contents and organisation of an ex-ante evaluation. It builds on the practice gained in ex ante evaluation during the 2000-2006 programming period while taking into account the new regulatory context for the 2007-2013 period, in terms of the content of programmes and requirements for their evaluation. Member States should use the guidance flexibly, adapting it to their specific requirements in order to ensure that the ex ante evaluation meets their needs.