The European Structural Funds and sustainable development

Ekins, P. and Medhurst, J. 2006. The European Structural Funds and sustainable development. Evaluation. 12 (4), pp. 474-495. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356389006071294

TitleThe European Structural Funds and sustainable development
AuthorsEkins, P. and Medhurst, J.
Abstract

Sustainable development (SD) is now a broad policy objective in the European Union (EU). This article explores how the contribution to SD of the EU Structural Funds (SFs) might be evaluated. It suggests the use of a ‘four-capitals model’ of SD, and outlines how commonly accepted principles and dimensions of sustainability might be interpreted within such a model. The article then reviews various approaches to SD indicators, concluding that an indicator framework is preferable to the various methods of aggregation of indicators that have been proposed. It then relates the indicator issue to the framework for evaluation of the SFs set out by the European Commission. Out of this discussion an illustrative indicator set for such an evaluation, related to the four-capitals model of SD, is derived.

'Reprinted by permission of Sage Publications Ltd from Ekins, Paul and Medhurst, James, The European Structural Funds and sustainable development, © 2006 SAGE Publications. All rights reserved. Not for commercial use or unauthorized distribution.'

KeywordsEvaluation, four-capitals model, indicator, structural funds, sustainable development
JournalEvaluation
Journal citation12 (4), pp. 474-495
ISSN1356-3890
YearOct 2006
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/1356389006071294
Publication dates
PublishedOct 2006

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