Assessment of the progress in implementing the evaluation plans of RDPs 2014-2022. Chapter 2 of the AIRs submitted in 2023

This report examines the Annual Implementation Reports (AIRs) submitted in June 2023, covering the 2022 calendar year, and analyses information from 'Chapter 2', which details the progress of EU Member States' RDP evaluation plans.

The number of evaluations completed in 2022 and documented in the AIRs in 2023, encompassing data from 23 Member States and the UK, amounted to 160.

The most substantial share of evaluations, at 29%, pertains to CAP Objective 2, which focuses on the sustainable management of natural resources and initiatives for climate action. Evaluations of ecosystems related to agriculture and forestry (RD Priority 4) are reported by 16 Member States and a smaller number of evaluations on resource efficiency, low carbon and climate resilient economy (RD Priority 5) is reported by six Member States.

This summary report lays out the information on the progress made by Managing Authorities in implementing the RDPs’ evaluation plans following the seven sub-sections of Chapter 2 of the AIRs. It also presents a summary assessment as well as recommendations for better reporting.

Finally, the annexes display a list of selected evaluations reported in the RDPs, including links where the evaluations have been published online, if available as well as examples of completed evaluations are shown with a view to illustrate interesting evaluation methods in relation to Rural Development priorities.

The work was carried out by an EU-wide team of 25 geographic experts while the design of the methodology and tools, as well as the overall analysis, were conducted by the European Evaluation Helpdesk for the CAP.