The Czech Republic : Programmes covered: National and Cross Border Co-operation Programmes 1999-2001 ; Phare Ex Post Evaluation. Phase 2, National and CBC Programmes: The Czech Republic

The purpose of this ex post evaluation is to assess the contribution of the 1999-2001 Phare National and Cross-Border Co-operation Programmes to support the Czech Republic in meeting the Copenhagen criteria so as to facilitate its accession to the European Union. The evaluation will also include a brief reference to post-2001 allocations. This report has been prepared between January and March 2006,1 and reflects the situation where the Phare national Programmes have ended. The evaluation is based on an analysis of documents provided at the start, during and on completion of the national Programmes, including previous interim evaluations, on the results of questionnaires, and on interviews with beneficiaries, contractors, and stakeholders. It examines the performance of the programmes in addressing the objectives stated in the formal programming documents, provides a general assessment of the programmes and draws conclusions and lessons learnt from them. The evaluation of the Czech National and Cross Border Co-operation programmes is one of a series of ten similar evaluations in the eight new member states, and in Bulgaria and Romania.The evaluations of the eight new member states will feed into a consolidated evaluation of Phare National and Cross Border Co-operation programmes, which, in turn, will form part of a consolidated ex-post evaluation of the Phare programme.