Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/2011Show full title

Article 126 U.K. Monitoring and evaluation procedures in relation to operational programmes

1. Producer organisations shall ensure the monitoring and evaluation of their operational programmes by making use of relevant indicators among the common performance indicators referred to in Article 125 and, where appropriate, of the additional indicators specified in the national strategy.

To this end, they shall establish a system to collect, record and maintain information useful for the compilation of those indicators.

2. Monitoring shall be aimed at assessing the progress made towards achieving the specific targets that have been set for the operational programme. It shall be carried out by means of financial, output and result indicators. The results of the exercise are intended to serve:

(a) to verify the quality of programme implementation;

(b) to identify any need for adjustments or review of the operational programme aimed at achieving the goals set for the programme or at improving the management of the programme, including its financial management;

(c) to contribute to meeting reporting requirements concerning the implementation of the operational programme.

Information concerning the results of the monitoring activities shall be included in each annual report, as referred to in Article 96(1), which the producer organisation is required to transmit to the National Authority in charge of the management of the national strategy.

3. Evaluation shall take the form of a separate mid-term evaluation report.

The mid-term evaluation exercise, which may be carried out with the aid of a specialised consultancy office, shall be aimed at examining the degree of utilisation of financial resources, the efficiency and the effectiveness of the operational programme, and assessing the progress made in relation to the overall objectives of the programme. To this end, use shall be made of common performance indicators relating to the baseline situation, results and, where appropriate, impacts.

Where relevant, the mid-term evaluation exercise shall include a qualitative assessment of the results and the impact of the environmental actions aimed at:

(a) the prevention of soil erosion;

(b) a reduction in the use of and/or better management of plant protection products;

(c) the protection of habitats and biodiversity; or

(d) landscape conservation.

The results of the exercise shall be used:

(a) to improve the quality of the operational programmes managed by the producer organisation;

(b) to identify any need for substantive change of the operational programme;

(c) to contribute to meeting reporting requirements concerning the implementation of the operational programmes; and

(d) to draw lessons useful in improving the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of future operational programmes managed by the producer organisation.

The mid-term evaluation exercise shall be carried out during the implementation of the operational programme, in time for allowing the results of the evaluation to be considered in the preparation of the subsequent operational programme.

The mid-term evaluation report shall be annexed to the corresponding annual report referred to in Article 96(1).