1.Evaluations shall aim to improve the quality, effectiveness and consistency of the assistance from Community funds and the strategy and implementation of the programmes.
2.Multi-annual indicative planning documents, as described in Article 5, shall be subject to regular ex ante evaluation, carried out by the Commission.
3.The Commission may also carry out strategic evaluations.
4.Programmes shall be subject to ex ante evaluations, as well as interim and, where relevant, ex post evaluations in accordance with the specific provisions laid down under each IPA component in Part II and Article 21 of Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002.
5.During the period of implementation of a programme, at least one interim evaluation shall be carried out, and specifically when the monitoring of the programme reveals significant departure from the goals initially set.
6.Ex post evaluation of the implementation of assistance shall be the responsibility of the Commission. Ex post evaluation shall include identifiable IPA component-specific results. In the event of joint management, ex post evaluation may be jointly carried out with other donors.
7.The results of ex ante and interim evaluation shall be taken into account in the programming and implementation cycle.
8.The Commission shall develop evaluation methods, including quality standards and using objective and measurable indicators.