Response to the European Court of Auditors' report - Main contents

EuropeAid’s evaluation and results-oriented monitoring systems

The European Court of Auditors has just published a special report on EuropeAid’s evaluation and so-called Results-oriented Monitoring Systems. I welcome the report, which rightly shows that we can still improve the overall monitoring and evaluation systems that we have in place for the work we do in development cooperation. At the same time, it also underlines some of our strong points - and it is pleasing to see that, in the Court’s view, on important aspects, our systems are well organised.

It is true, however, that we that we needed to improve certain parts of our monitoring process - and in fact the Commission services had already decided to do so before the Court initiated its work on the special report - and that we also need to better plan, support and supervise project and programme evaluations.

I am glad to report (and the Court recognises this) that Commission services have been working on various improvements of its monitoring and evaluation systems for several months; with some already implemented and others about to start soon.

I therefore see the Court's recommendations as both a support and an encouragement for the reforms we have already initiated and for the additional improvements we will put in place in the future.

As I underlined in today’s Committee hearing in the European Parliament, on the budget discharge: producing results is a priority for us, and showing and reporting them is also important. I'm pleased to say therefore that the Commission is enhancing its results focus and culture; reinforcing effectiveness and efficiency across all development policy areas.

I am confident that our continuous efforts to improve monitoring and reporting on results; as well as evaluation, will pay off: helping us to deliver better work on the ground and achieve maximum impact with our funding.