TARGET_TIA: A Complete, Flexible and Sound Territorial Impact Assessment Tool

Abstract

This chapter presents the TARGET_TIA as relevant and flexible Territorial Impact Assessment (TIA) methodology. TARGET_TIA was created in a context where existing ESPON TIA tools were mainly designed for assessing ex-ante territorial impacts of EU directives. Hence, in view of the need to properly assess the main ex-post territorial impacts of EU Cohesion Policy in several countries in a relevant and sound way, the author decided to design, test and apply its own TIA methodology, which he named TARGET_TIA. When compared with other existing TIA methodologies, TARGET_TIA adds the possibility to be used both at an ex-ante and ex-post policy evaluation phases. In addition, it brings to the table the possibility to use counterfactual evaluation elements to allow the production of credible and sound TIA evaluation scores. Following from the implementation of the TARGET_TIA in assessing the main territorial impacts of EU policies and programmes, mostly at the ex-post evaluation phase, one can conclude that it is a credible, flexible, easy to operate, cost effective and robust TIA methodology which can be applied to projects, programmes and policies, at all territorial levels.

From impact assessments towards proactive citizen engagement in EU cohesion policy

“…The European Commission has made impact assessments an integral element in the design and evaluation of EU cohesion policies (ECA, 2010). Impact assessments unquestionably provide vital information that support the planning of future policies, by highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of different policy options and analysing which policy initiatives will have the most far-reaching impact across European regions (Medeiros, 2014(Medeiros, , 2020. However, it is open to question whether impact assessments are efficient as a mechanism for enhancing citizen support for EU cohesion policies and building EU identities.…”