The Evaluation Conference, organised by the Evaluation Unit of the Ministry of Regional Development – the National Coordination Authority, is the largest annual gathering of experts dedicated to the topic of evaluations in the field of European funds. Each year, the Evaluation Conference attracts nearly 200 professionals not only from the Czech Republic, but also from other EU countries.
The 11th edition of the conference, titled “Data in Action: Evaluation as the Key to Effective Cohesion Policy 2028+”, took place on 13 November 2025 in Prague in an in-person format at the Ministry of Regional Development – Academy of Public Investment.
Opening Remarks
The opening address was delivered by Martina Postupová, State Secretary of the Czech Ministry of Regional Development, who emphasised the importance of evaluations for strategic decision-making and the need for a culture of learning, adaptation, and collaboration among analysts, evaluators, and policymakers. Postupová highlighted that the Ministry has long supported evaluations and the development of analytical capacities through specialised departments and projects such as the Evaluation Unit, the analytical department, and the SMART project. Analytics and evaluations are used not only in managing EU funds but also to improve internal processes, enhance efficiency and service quality, and foster innovation in public administration. Evaluation results are systematically integrated into decision-making and strategic management within the Ministry.
Keynote Speech
Peter Berkowitz, Director at the European Commission (DG REGIO), stressed that evaluating cohesion policy is crucial for shaping effective EU policies. He noted that current evaluations are the most advanced in history, involving the Commission, external experts, and Member States. He placed special emphasis on advanced quantitative methods such as regression discontinuity, synthetic control, and machine learning, as well as the need for triangulation of results and working with theories of change. According to Berkowitz, cohesion policy is a long-term investment in EU competitiveness, not merely a mechanism for redistributing funds among regions.
He highlighted key findings: cohesion policy has a demonstrably positive impact on GDP, employment, and productivity, though these effects are not always proportional to the amount of funding – regional factors play a significant role. Evaluation results align with academic literature and confirm that high-quality evaluations are essential for strategic decision-making.
Berkowitz also pointed to the future of evaluations and data: access to high-quality microdata will be critical, and new legislation aims to ensure better granularity and data integration across systems. Plans include using artificial intelligence for data analysis, bringing further innovation to evaluation processes. He also mentioned support for experimental approaches, particularly randomised controlled trials. The Commission is implementing pilot projects with the World Bank to test measures before full-scale deployment. Berkowitz stressed that embedding evaluation within the new performance-based management model is vital for the future success of cohesion policy.
Overall, his speech called for integrating evaluation insights into policymaking, ensuring accountability and learning processes, and viewing evaluations as tools for long-term development and EU competitiveness.
First Panel Discussion
The first panel focused on the future of evaluations and evidence-based approaches in cohesion policy. Panelists Stanislav Schneidr (Czech Ministry of Regional Development), Pascal Boijmans (European Commission – DG REGIO), Federico Lucidi (European Commission – DG EMPL), and Siret Soonsein (State Shared Service Centre, Estonia) discussed the evolving role of evaluation under the new regulatory framework post-2028, particularly the introduction of a performance framework that harmonises indicators across funds and links payments to specific results. They stressed the need for strategic decision-making based on quality data, integrating evaluation findings into policy design, and ensuring access to microdata.
The discussion addressed balancing control and trust within the implementation system. Panelists and audience members explored the partnership principle, risks of “gaming” (intentional data distortion), and data manipulation. Solutions include flexibility, stakeholder engagement, and robust evaluations. Siret Soonsein highlighted the importance of stakeholder involvement and realistic goals for successful results-based financing. Schneidr emphasised the need for a culture of learning, collaboration, and trust among actors in the Czech implementation system. The debate showed that open communication and experience-sharing among Member States are key to success.
Second Panel Discussion
Alexandre Reznikow (MMR analytical unit) opened the second panel with a presentation on regional analysis of public investment over the past decade. He stressed that regional allocation of public spending is closely linked to development trajectories. Public expenditure directly influences socio-economic development, for example through investments in infrastructure or public services. He noted that a region’s level of development can affect its ability to absorb public funds, particularly in weaker regions with lower capacity. Reznikow presented findings on the types of spending allocated to different regions based on their development level, highlighting the importance of monitoring these data to better target limited resources and assess impact. He also pointed out conflicts between regional policy goals and sectoral policy objectives, which can lead to inefficient resource allocation.
Panelists Martin Pělucha (University of Economics, Prague), Jan Píša (J. E. Purkyně University, Ústí nad Labem), and Ondřej Slach (University of Ostrava) expanded on these themes, discussing whether public spending in the Czech Republic effectively targets lagging regions and the main barriers to efficient investment use. They noted that data quality is not always sufficient for applying the most suitable analytical methods, requiring a mix of quantitative and qualitative approaches.
The debate also focused on the impact of weaker regions’ absorption capacity on investment efficiency, discrepancies between regional and sectoral policy goals, and the need for better alignment and data use for strategic management. Panelists shared experiences with econometric methods, geographically weighted regression, and data visualisation, highlighting data limitations and the need for alternative approaches where data quality is lacking.
Attention was also given to local actors’ motivation for change, barriers to regional transformation, and the importance of collaboration between academia, public administration, and local stakeholders. Panelists agreed that successful regional policy requires not only strong analytical tools but also the ability to engage diverse actors and overcome institutional barriers. Monitoring regional data and interpreting them correctly can significantly improve targeting of public spending and regional development.
Afternoon Session
The afternoon session focused on sharing international experiences and innovative approaches to evaluating public policies, particularly in the context of EU funds, national budgets, and new technologies. Enrico Pesaresi (European Commission – DG REGIO) presented results of ex-post and mid-term evaluations of EU funds for 2014–2020 and 2021–2027, focusing on methodologies such as macroeconomic modelling, counterfactual analyses, and data from Member States. Findings showed positive impacts on GDP and employment but uneven regional effects, with administrative capacity and institutional environment being key success factors. Pesaresi stressed the need for better reporting and use of detailed project data to improve evaluations.
Miryam Vahtra (Estonian Ministry of Finance) showcased Estonia’s system linking evaluation results with budgeting and policy decisions. Estonia has a unified national evaluation plan covering both EU funds and national programmes. Evaluation results are systematically used in budget preparation and selection of reforms and investments. Harmonisation across ministries, data sharing, and regular updates on an internal website are crucial. Spending reviews and collaboration between strategic and evaluation teams play a major role.
Mariana Pereira-Lopez (World Bank) presented two randomised controlled trials conducted in the Czech Republic, focusing on AI adoption in SMEs and entrepreneurial skills development for start-ups. Both interventions showed measurable short-term benefits in innovation, growth, and entrepreneurial mindset, proving cost-effective and scalable.
Polish expert Marlena Stępień (Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy) shared experiences using generative AI to design evaluations of partnership principle implementation for 2021–2027. She described stakeholder engagement, collection of over 500 inputs, and processing using ChatGPT and Google Notebook LM. AI accelerated synthesis and structuring of data, but human oversight, methodological expertise, and critical thinking remained essential. The result was an effective evaluation design positively assessed by stakeholders. Stępień stressed the need to develop evaluators’ tech skills and ensure transparency in AI use.
Anna Pasková (Ministry of Environment) closed the block with a focus on strategic management and environmental policy, stressing alignment with global goals, strengthening development cooperation and climate resilience, policy coherence, and effective monitoring and evaluation.
Parallel Session
The parallel session featured Czech case studies. Michal Kvasnička and Jan Prančl (Ministry of Education) presented evaluation results of the “Action Planning in Territories – MAP” call, aimed at supporting joint planning and cooperation among education stakeholders at the local level. The evaluation showed MAP’s key role in connecting actors, improving communication, and sharing best practices, with positive impacts on educational activities for children and teachers. Challenges included administrative burden, weak parental involvement, and uncertain sustainability.
Martin Dytrych (Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs) presented “Social Work with Returns: Data Speaks Clearly,” showing that timely, quality social work brings significant financial savings and improves lives. The analysis included three detailed case studies, each with scenarios of early intervention, delayed intervention, and no intervention, with monetised impacts.
Léon Kamenický (Charles University) focused on regional impacts of EU funds using applied research and advanced statistical methods, despite data limitations. Examples included data visualisation via ArcGIS and econometric modelling.
The programme also included a workshop on “Strategic Foresight & Evaluation,” exploring foresight methods in evaluation processes and their role in identifying future trends and risks.
Closing Remarks
The conference concluded with informal discussion and networking. Key takeaways included the importance of data quality, innovative methods, stakeholder engagement, balancing control and trust, and opportunities for simplification and better alignment under the new EU performance framework. Evaluations and performance frameworks were deemed essential for effective fund use. AI shows promise, but human expertise remains critical. Strategic foresight strengthens policy resilience to future trends, and linking evaluations with budgeting and political debates is vital for effective cohesion policy.