EEA) Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009–2014
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Evaluation of programmes financed by the European Economic Area (EEA) Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009–2014 FINAL EVALUATION REPORT Ljubljana, January, 2018 Title: Evaluation of programmes financed by the European Economic Area (EEA) Financial Mechanism of and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009–2014 Documentation: Study Contract No.: C1541-17T750006 Contracting authority: Republic of Slovenia – Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy Kotnikova 5 1000 Ljubljana Contractor: EIPF, ekonomski institut d.o.o. Prešernova 21 1000 Ljubljana Project leader: prof. dr. Bruna Zolin Experts: dr. Barbara Brečko dr. Andreja Črnak-Meglič mag. Barbara Kobal-Tomc dr. France Križanič Damjana Pediček-Terseglav, univ. dipl. etnolog Anej Visković, univ. dipl. geogr. mag. Martin Žerdin Date: 15th January 2018 The responsibility for the contents and presentation of findings and recommendations rests with the evaluation team. The views and opinions expressed in the report do not necessarily correspond with those of Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy of the Republic of Slovenia. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Research context The main aim of the EEA and Norway Grants was to contribute to reduce economic and social differences within the European Economic Area (EEA) and to enhance cooperation between Slovenia, the Beneficiary State, and Donor States, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Slovenia received around 29 million Euros from the EEA and Norway Grants in the period 2009–2014 through five Programmes. These Programmes, address different priority areas such as the environmental and climate change, the conservation and revitalization of cultural and natural heritage, research and scholarships, public health and equal opportunities, human and social development and civil society. Research aims and objectives The main purposes of this evaluation are to assess the effectiveness and the efficiency of implementation system of programmes financed by the EEA and Norwegian Financial Mechanisms 2009–2014, to review the results, outputs and outcomes achieved in relation to the target values, as well as the effects. Furthermore, it focuses on the evaluation of the communication strategy according to its planned objectives. This evaluations takes into account 4 Programmes: Technical Assistance and the Fund for Bilateral Relations at National Level (SI01), EEA Financial Mechanism Programme 2009–2014 (SI02), Slovenian Scholarship Fund 2009–2014 (SI04) and Norwegian Financial Mechanism Programme 2009–2014 (SI05). The SI02 and SI05 programmes were completed in December 2017, while the SI04 programme was completed in April 2017. As sources, the research has utilized: the Combined Strategic & Annual Programme Reports, the results obtained through the monitoring system carried out by the Programme Operators (POs), the documentation reviews (e.g. web pages, reports), the in-depth interviews, meetings with the contracting authorities, online survey and case studies. Reflecting on the current programming period and take stock of what has been achieved, learned and experienced, will help shaping and defining the new programming period 2014–2021. Key Findings SI01: Technical Assistance and the Fund for Bilateral Relations at National Level, Operator: Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy (GODC), National Focal Point. Slovenia was eligible for technical assistance (€ 403,500.00) for the implementation of financial mechanisms and for the fund for strengthening bilateral relations (€ 134,500.00) between the Republic of Slovenia and Donor States at the national level. As highlighted in the Combined Strategic and Annual Programme Report for 2016, the funds under the Technical Assistance and the Fund for Bilateral Relations at National Level were addressed to cover the management costs incurred at: the National Focal Point, the Certifying Authority and the Audit Authority and to cover other activities related to the National Focal Point (conferences, workshops, organization of the Final event of the Norwegian and EEA Financial Mechanism 2009–2014, update of the website, promotional material and so on). As far as bilateral cooperation is concerned, the main results are the transfer of knowledge and the bilateral promotion as a basis for cooperation in the future. In “Health Inequality” (implemented by the Ministry of Health), in “Gender Equality” (implemented by the Ministry of Labor, the Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities) and in “Past experiences and the future of European integration” (implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) have been found the main fields able to strengthen cooperation at national level. SI02: EEA Financial Mechanism Programme 2009–2014 (€ 9.4 million, 10 projects), Programme Operator: Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy (GODC), Financial Mechanisms Division. Under the EEA Financial Mechanism Programme (SI02) all the projects were completed by January 2017. The general aims of the Programme were to improve the conservation status of habitat types and species, especially because of the several natural disasters that have damaged Slovenia, and to help to maintain the cultural and natural heritage in order to contribute to the economic but sustainable growth and to an environmental education. All funded activities were in line with the general aims of the Programme. More specifically, all planned activities have been “successfully finished, goals met, some of them even surpassed” as written in the Combined Strategic and Annual Programme Report for 2016. In addition, because of the complexity of the projects, as showed in the survey, the results were very positively and well accepted at local, national and international levels. The success of the projects implementation was mainly due to a well-developed project plan. Furthermore, concerning the whole SI02 Programme, the partnership has proven to be an essential element to increase the confidence of the Slovenian project teams. The Programme covered three areas. Under the first area “Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services” 4 projects were co-financed totaling € 2 million (21.63 % of grants). The second area is divided into two sub-areas. “Conservation and Revitalization of Cultural Heritage” and “Conservation and Revitalization of Natural Heritage”. The first involved 3 projects for a total value of € 4.6 million (42.61 % of grants), while the second involved 2 projects for a total value of € 1.3 million (13.54 % of grants). The last area “Environmental Monitoring and Environmental Planning and Control” covered only 1 pre-defined project "Modernization of the Spatial Data Infrastructure for Reducing the Risks and the consequences of Floods" supported for € 2.1 million (22.22 % of grants). - “Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services” with the aim of reducing the decline in biodiversity and increasing the capacity for effective management and monitoring of Natura 2000 sites. As showed in the Combined Strategic and Annual Programme Report for 2016, the implemented projects have contributed to improve the conservation status of 16 Natura 2000 habitat types and species, and enhance the monitoring and surveying of unknown species. In particular, as emerged from the final evaluation, key results achieved in this area have been the promotion and enrolment into environmental protection measures of the farming policy, the preservation of the last larger population of one of the most endangered species of butterflies and the establishment of efficient cooperation with the project partners. - “Conservation and Revitalization of Cultural and Natural Heritage”. The first subarea was aiming at preserving and restoring cultural monuments accessible to the public, contributing to local and regional development, enriching the tourist offer and recognizing the local or regional environment. The second, aimed at preserving the natural heritage sites within the state protected areas and their accessibility to the public. According to the Combined Strategic and Annual Programme Report for 2016, the projects made three cultural monuments contributing to cultural heritage publicly accessible, renovated, restored and conserved. They also have established public infrastructure for visitors to access most important natural values in protected areas. In this area, the main successes achieved were the greater availability and protection of cultural heritages as well as the restoration and renovation of cultural monument of national importance (UNESCO list), new discoveries and the establishment of needed infrastructures. Concerning instead natural heritages, great results obtained were the raised education and awareness of both property owners and youth about the importance of nature preservation and the efficient cooperation with Donor States. - “Environmental Monitoring and Environmental Planning and Control” with the aim of improving compliance with environmental legislation. The main successes of the project were the establishment of conditions to facilitate the exchange of information on environmental impacts of diverse natural or man-made causes (e.g. height constituent of the national reference system, the updating of the topographical data and the new hydrographic database) as well as the improved reputation and status of Slovenian geodetic profession. SI04: Slovenian Scholarship Fund 2009–2014 (€ 2.3 million, 52 projects), Programme Operator: Centre of the Republic of Slovenia for Mobility and