Article 16 Evaluation

The Commission shall regularly monitor and review its programmes, and evaluate the effectiveness, coherence and consistency of programming, where appropriate by means of independent external evaluations, in order to ascertain whether the objectives have been met and to enable it to formulate recommendations with a view to improving future operations. Proposals by the European Parliament or the Council for independent external evaluations shall be taken into due account.

The Commission shall send its evaluation reports to the Committee referred to in Article 17(1) and to the European Parliament for information. Member States may request discussion of specific evaluations in the Committee referred to in Article 17(1). The results shall feed back into programme design and resource allocation.

The Commission shall associate all stakeholders as appropriate in the evaluation phase of Community assistance provided under this Regulation. Joint evaluations with Member States, international organisations or other bodies shall be encouraged.