Applying Multicriteria Analysis in ongoing Evaluation of EU Structural Programs

This contribute proposes an application of multicriteria analysis in supporting policy decisions. ELECTRE TRI method is applied for evaluating an Operational Programme co-financed by EU in the structural policy framework 2000-2006. This work has two objectives: i) to ensure that the use of multicriteria approach, through the ELECTRE TRI method, could represent a useful methodological tool to evaluate, in a systematic way, complex programmes, such as EU Structural Funds Program; ii) to demonstrate that the application of this method to a regional programme, could help to achieve satisfactory results in terms of improving the decision making process. To this end, the analysis will test if and to what extent a classificatory not hierarchical multicriteria method, could be useful in supporting policy makers during the implementation of EU programme. The contribute synthetically describes the general characteristic of the method and then focuses on the criteria utilised to evaluate the programme, within the context of an in itinere evaluation. The application of ELECTRE TRI method will allow the evaluator to cluster the program’s actions in two scenarios and three different risk level classes in each scenario.