Η εφαρμογή της υβριδικής αξιολόγησης στα προγράμματα αγροτικής ανάπτυξης της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης

Abstract

The main purpose of this thesis is to investigate the success and failure factorsidentified by all stakeholders involved in the stages of design, implementation andevaluation of the Greek Rural Development Programme and affect directly orindirectly the achievement of its objectives. Beginning with the main aim, thisresearch effort makes an attempt to meet the requirement for a hybrid evaluation ofall the three stages / processes of the policy cycle mentioned above, combiningquantitative and qualitative methods beyond the Common Monitoring andEvaluation Framework of the European Commission. To ensure the participation ofall those who affect and are affected by the Rural Development Policy, a twoprongedapproach is adopted. Firstly, consider the issue from the perspective ofparticipants in the politico-administrative system of the Rural DevelopmentProgramme design, implementation and evaluation at national, regional and local level and, secondly, from the perspective of the final beneficiaries who are thecountryside residents.In-depth interviews and a focus group were held and Quantitative Network Analysiswas applied, regarding the investigation of the matter from the perspective of actorsinvolved in the design, implementation and evaluation politico-administrativesystem of the Rural Development Programme of Greece. The examination of thestakeholders’ views who are participating in the politico-administrative system putsa high priority on increasing all stakeholders’ participation in the stage of design,reducing bureaucracy, increasing and continuously educating personnel the stage ofimplementation. Regarding the stage of evaluation it is proposed to combinequantitative with qualitative methods beyond the Common Monitoring andEvaluation Framework of the European Commission. The evaluation results mustrepresent reality and be used as key tool for the redesign of the current and thedesign of the next programming period and not been faced only as an institutionalduty of each EU member - state to the Commission.With respect to the study of the final beneficiaries’ profile and behavior, who are theresidents of the countryside, quantitative research was undertaken. 107beneficiaries of the measure 121 "Modernisation of agricultural holdings" of the Rural Development Programme for Greece from 2007 to 2013 from Imathia Regionof Central Macedonia were participated. Based on the empirical results, the farmersdid not participate in the design of the measure 121. They believe that there isbureaucracy and the major problems are the requirement of multiple andunnecessary documents and long delays in the approval of the applications.