Performance monitoring and evaluation framework

The PMEF at a glance

On 6 December 2021, Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing rules on support for CAP Strategic Plans was adopted. This regulation establishes the performance monitoring and evaluation framework (PMEF), which applies for the CAP from 2023 until 2027.

The PMEF supports the shift in policy focus from compliance with rules to performance and results. This new performance-based delivery model uses a set of common performance indicators.

As a successor to the common monitoring and evaluation framework (CMEF), monitoring and evaluation results under PMEF generate valuable information. They:

• provide a sound analytical basis for future policy design;
• help in setting policy and programme objectives, and are then used to measure how these objectives are met in the long term;
• contribute to the accountability of public spending, playing an important role in responding to citizens’ concerns and questions regarding the use of taxpayers’ money.

Monitoring

The set of performance indicators under the PMEF includes:

• output indicators, which will be used for monitoring the implementation of the CAP;
• result indicators, which will be used to monitor EU countries’ progress towards pre-set targets;
• context and impact indicators, which will be used to assess the overall policy performance against CAP objectives.

The cover note provides detailed guidance on planning and reporting of output and results indicators. Indicators’ fiches are available per types of indicators, such as output, result, context and impact.

Data for Monitoring and Evaluation (DME)

In addition to the PMEF indicators, the Data for Monitoring and Evaluation (DME) is a fundamental component of the PMEF and the performance-based delivery model. Five types of data are collected in the framework of the DME:

• disaggregated data on interventions and beneficiaries (DIB), i.e. the data underlying the Annual Performance Report;
• the ratio of permanent grassland established each year pursuant to Article 48(2) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/126;
• data on interventions in certain sectors, referred to in Title III, Chapter III, of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115;
• data on European Innovation Partnership (EIP) operational groups, referred to in Article 127(3) of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115;
• data on local action groups (LAGs) and their activities for LEADER as defined in Article 3, point (15), of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115.

The guidelines and explanatory note provide guidance on how to collect and report on the different types of data.

Access to PMEF data

Several datasets are available on Agri-food data portal to access and visualise the CAP performance indicators, provide an overview of CAP interventions, financial allocation to CAP specific objectives or planned outputs by themes.

The PMEF Data Explorer provides insights on output, result, context and impact indicators, focusing on the agricultural sector and rural areas as well as general economic and environmental trends. It covers planning and implementation data.

Additionally, the PMEF Data Visualizer provides users with tools to visualise and compare indicators through graphs, maps and tables.

The Catalogue of CAP interventions offers an easily searchable overview of CAP Strategic Plans (2023-27) and implementation choices made by EU countries.

Result indicators link CAP actions to their purpose in the CAP Strategic Plan. EU countries set targets to quantify their ambition in the implementation of the CAP.

Financial allocation to CAP specific objectives provides detailed information on the budget allocation of interventions to the CAP specific objectives according to the links between interventions and specific objectives established by EU countries in their CAP Strategic Plans.

Planned outputs by theme showcase detailed information on outputs (e.g. areas, livestock units, farmers, and operations) that EU countries intend to support under the CAP 2023-27, organised by specific themes.

Evaluations and Studies

Within the PMEF, evaluation is a tool to assess the impact of policy interventions. It provides evidence for decision-making and improves the effectiveness, efficiency and relevance of CAP interventions. It also contributes to improved transparency, learning and accountability.

Evaluations of the measures related to income support for farmers, assistance for complying with sustainable agricultural practices, and market support are carried out by independent external contractors. This includes research bodies, universities and consultancy firms, who operate under the responsibility of the Commission on the basis of a multiannual evaluation plan. Further, thematic studies, as well as pilot projects and preparatory actions, carried out by independent external contractors, also support evidence-based policy analysis. Contracts are established through a public tendering process. Tender notices and calls for tender are published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

The purpose, scope and timing of each evaluation is set out in Call for Evidence documents, which are open to feedback from citizens.

To ensure that evaluations are firmly embedded in the policy making process and that established benchmarks are met, the Commission has prepared guidelines and a toolbox for better regulation, outlining requirements and best practices for evaluations of the CAP.

Evaluation reports and studies are listed in six categories:

• farmers and farming
• environmental and climatic sustainability
• rural areas
• research, innovation and technology
• products and markets
• regulation and simplification.

Reports on CAP performance

The Commission also regularly reports to Parliament and Council on the performance of the CAP at different stages of the policy cycle.

The report on summary of CAP Strategic Plans for 2023-27: joint effort and collective ambition (COM(2023) 707 final) examines the CAP Strategic Plans’ combined efforts towards the CAP’s objectives based on an analysis of the needs and intervention logic established by EU countries. It relies on the values of indicators planned in the approved CAP Strategic Plans and on qualitative appraisal of the potential effects of the choices.

The report on the operation of the new delivery model by the EU countries and contribution of their CAP Strategic Plans to achieving environmental and climate-related commitments of the Union (COM(2026) 37 final) presents information on the operation of the new delivery model and a first assessment of the contribution of interventions planned in the 28 CAP Strategic Plans to the achievement of the EU’s environmental and climate objectives.

Based on evidence provided in evaluations on the CAP, including evaluations on CAP Strategic Plans, as well as other relevant information sources, the Commission is to present a report on the interim evaluation, including first results on the performance of the CAP 2023-27, to the European Parliament and the Council by 31 December 2027. A second report including an assessment of the performance of the CAP 2023-27 shall be presented by 31 December 2031.

Legal bases

The following rules govern the PMEF for:

• the setting up the performance monitoring and evaluation framework (see Article 128 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115)
• the calculation of output and result indicators (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2290)
• the evaluation of the CAP Strategic Plans and the provision of information for monitoring and evaluation (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1475)