Beneficiary countries shall carry out an ex ante evaluation for each operational programme separately. However, in duly justified cases, and in agreement with the Commission, beneficiary countries may carry out a single ex ante evaluation covering more than one operational programme.

Ex ante evaluations shall be carried out under the responsibility of the operating structure.

Ex ante evaluations shall aim to optimise the allocation of budgetary resources under operational programmes and improve programming quality. They shall identify and appraise the disparities, gaps and potential for development, the goals to be achieved, the results expected, the quantified targets, the coherence, if necessary, of the strategy proposed and the quality of the procedures for implementation, monitoring, evaluation and financial management.

The ex ante evaluation shall be annexed to the operational programme(s) it relates to.

During the programming period, beneficiary countries shall carry out evaluations linked to the monitoring of operational programmes, in particular where this monitoring reveals a significant departure from the goals initially set or where proposals are made for the revision of operational programmes, as referred to in Article 156. The results shall be sent to the sectoral monitoring committee for the operational programme and to the Commission.

Evaluations shall be carried out by experts or bodies, internal or external, functionally independent of the authorities referred to in Article 21. The results shall be published according to the applicable rules on access to documents.