Evaluating Objective 1 in Wales: the experience of the Mid-term Evaluation

• Main Author: Gareth S. Williams
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cardiff University Press 2004-07-01
• Series: Welsh Economic Review
• Subjects: economy; wales; european union; strategic funding; structural fund; objective 1; west wales; welsh valleys; mid-term evaluation; social disparity; economic disparity
• Online Access: https://wer.cardiffuniversitypress.org/articles/241

The Objective 1 Programme for West Wales and the Valleys is one of a suite of EU Structural Fund programmes which run from January 2000 to December 2006 in Wales.  The four Structural Funds are the EU's principal tools for combating social and economic disparities within the Union and <em>"aim at reducing disparities between the levels of development of the various regions".</em> Objective 1 is intended to <em>"promote the development and structural adjustment of regions whose development is lagging behind"</em> and is targeted at regions with less than 75% of EU per capita GDP.<br /><br />The Mid-term Evaluation of the EU's Objective 1 Programme for West Wales and the Valleys took place between September 2002 and August 2003. This paper considers the task involved, the method employed, the conclusions and recommendations and whether these are, in fact, making any difference to the way in which the Programme - the largest Structural Fund Programe in the UK - is being implemented.  The full Mid-term Evaluation report can be found at www.wefo.wales.gov.uk .