topics of the Austrian CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 and the Rural Development Program 2014-2020
The evaluation of the implementation and impact of measures taken under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is particularly important. The evaluation framework for this is set out in EU regulations. The evaluation involves, for example, reviewing the intervention logic of national agricultural policy programmes and plans, assessing the impact of CAP measures and developing recommendations for the adaptation and further development of measures (e.g. BMLUK, 2023).
The Austrian Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 (LE 14-20) implemented six EU priorities (e.g. BMLUK, 2025a; BMNT, 2018). These six priorities (with the overarching priority of knowledge transfer and innovation and the three cross-cutting objectives relevant to the other priorities) are in turn divided into several focus areas (SPB); the associated measures are intended to contribute to the general and specific objectives of the CAP for this funding period (e.g. European Commission, 2015). When evaluating LE 14-20, the evaluation questions (see Implementing Regulation EU-VO 808/2014, Annex V) must be answered. These steps were already taken in 2017 and 2019 as part of the extended annual implementation reports (see BMLUK, 2025b). The final step is the upcoming ex-post evaluation of LE 14-20.
The guidelines and requirements for evaluation have changed between funding periods. For the evaluation of the Austrian CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 (GSP 23-27; BMLUK, 2025c), the legal framework for the monitoring and evaluation system is essentially provided by the CAP Strategic Plan Regulation EU-VO 2021/2115 and implementing regulations (see, for example, BMLUK, 2023). According to the evaluation plan for the GSP Austria 2023-2027 (BMLUK, 2023), each of the three general objectives of the CAP and each of the nine specific objectives (SO), including the cross-cutting objective, as well as each specific theme (e.g. organic farming as a national theme) is to be evaluated at least once during the implementation period, whereby the impact of the interventions on the individual SO must be assessed. The 36 evaluation topics developed (i.e. key content-related issues with defined evaluation questions and their success factors) serve as the basis for the evaluation (BMLUK, 2023).
According to the evaluation plan, the period for evaluating GSP 23-27 can be narrowed down to the years 2025-2028; the ex-post evaluation of the Austrian GSP 23-27 is planned for the period 2029-2031. In terms of timing, the activities related to the evaluation of GSP 23-27 will overlap with the ex-post evaluation of LE 14-20 and the programming of GSP 2028-2035.
Objective
As part of the BAB's long-term project, the ex-post evaluation of the Austrian LE 14-20 and the evaluation of the Austrian GSP 23-27 are being prepared and carried out for selected evaluation topics and areas: education and counselling, Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS); competitiveness and farm succession; household income; environment and climate; equality; LEADER/Community-Led Local Development (CLLD); mobility and broadband infrastructure.
The objectives of the long-term project are i) to provide scientific support for the overlapping evaluations (ex-post evaluation of LE 14-20, evaluation of GSP 23-27) by supporting and providing scientific advice to the BMLUK (Department II/1 and those responsible for intervention) in preparing the evaluation, by identifying necessary evaluation studies, etc.; ii) specifying necessary data and reviewing existing data which, together with suitable methods, are required to answer the evaluation questions, as well as identifying data gaps, taking into account experience from previous evaluations; and iii) evaluating selected evaluation topics or areas as part of the ex-post evaluation of LE 14-20 and as part of the evaluation of GSP 23-27, taking into account the respective specifications and requirements (e.g. answering the specified evaluation questions, calculating indicators).
In accordance with legal requirements, the evaluations focus on the effects of LE 14-20 and GSP 23-27. For the ex-post evaluation of LE 14-20, the BAB can already build on the experience and results of previous evaluations of this funding period. The evaluation of GSP 23-27 also focuses on assessing the evaluation criteria of relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, coherence and EU added value.
The project consists of several work packages (WP) within which BAB evaluators carry out the evaluation of selected evaluation topics or areas (ex-post evaluation of LE 14-20, evaluation of GSP 23-27). The WP leaders are each responsible for coordinating and carrying out the evaluation activities relating to their WP. The main tasks of the overall project management at BAB include coordinating evaluation activities across WPs, maintaining continuous communication with the BMLUK regarding the organisation of evaluation activities, and communicating with the project team of project BAB 073/24 ‘CAP Data Pool – Data Modelling and Data Management’.
Status of the overall project
In 2024, the evaluation topics and areas in which the BAB will participate in the evaluation of the GSP 23-27 were defined in collaboration with the BMLUK (now BMLUK, Dept. II/1): The BAB will coordinate the evaluation of the general CAP objective B (‘Promoting environmental protection, biodiversity and climate protection, contributing to the achievement of the EU's environmental and climate-related objectives’). In addition, the BAB will evaluate the following areas: SZ 02 (Increased market orientation and competitiveness of agricultural holdings), SZ 07 (Increasing attractiveness for young farmers; facilitating business development), cross-cutting objective QZ 10 (AKIS), the evaluation topic ‘Added value of LEADER’ and the evaluation topic ‘Equality’. In addition, the BAB's evaluation areas for the ex-post evaluation of LE 14-20 were defined in 2025, and it was determined that the BAB will also evaluate the evaluation topic ‘Household income of agricultural enterprises’ (as part of SZ 01 – Sustainable agricultural income, resilience and food security) of the GSP 23-27.
In connection with these areas and beyond, the BMLUK was continuously supported in 2024 and 2025 in preparing the ex-post evaluation of LE 14-20 and the evaluation of GSP 23-27, e.g. by specifying the necessary data and identifying data gaps, by participating in coordination meetings at the BMLUK on the relevant evaluation topics and areas, as well as in workshops, by determining the need for evaluation studies, by providing scientific support for evaluation studies, by providing content-related and scientific advice, and by participating in workshops. Details on the activities and scope of the ex-post evaluation of LE 14-20 and the evaluation of GSP 23-27 were agreed with the BMLUK in the individual APs.
Planned work 2026
In the first half of 2026, the ex-post evaluation of LE 14-20 will be the focus of activities. Essentially, the reports from the mid-term evaluation of LE 14-20 from 2019 are to be updated and supplemented on the basis of current data, our own quantitative and qualitative evaluations and analyses, results from evaluation studies and scientific literature, etc. within the framework of the respective AP. This also requires close coordination and cooperation between the evaluators involved. In addition, evaluation studies will be accompanied by the BAB.
At the same time, preparations are being made for the evaluation of GSP 23-27 during the implementation period, which will begin in the second half of 2026. The necessary activities in this context – e.g. specifying the required data, supporting the BMLUK by monitoring the evaluation studies, participating in coordination meetings at the BMLUK on the relevant evaluation topics (ET) and in workshops – will be coordinated, planned and carried out in cooperation with the BMLUK. In addition, the BAB will carry out the evaluation of selected evaluation topics and areas within the framework of the AP and answer the corresponding evaluation questions with the help of, for example, data and literature research, various quantitative and qualitative methods, and data evaluations and analyses. The evaluation team will coordinate with the evaluators of other ETs as necessary. For the evaluation of GSP 23-27, there will be continuous exchange with the project team of project BAB 073/24 ‘GAP Data Pool – Data Modelling and Data Management’ in order to coordinate the development of the database and the data requirements on the part of the evaluators.
Further details can be found below in the descriptions of the individual APs:
Work package ‘Education and counselling, AKIS’
(Work package lead: Sarah Lappöhn; collaboration: Sophie Pfusterschmid, Dieter Kömle)
- Ex-post evaluation of LE 14–20:
Evaluation of SPB 1A (promoting innovation, cooperation and the development of the knowledge base in rural areas), 1B (strengthening links between agriculture, food production and forestry, and research and innovation, including for the purpose of improving environmental management and performance) and 1C (promoting lifelong learning and vocational training in agriculture and forestry)
- Evaluation of GSP 23–27:
QZ 10 (AKIS) with ET_Q2 ‘Qualification and competence building, AKIS’
The evaluation plan for GSP 23–27 defined the evaluation topic ‘ET-Q2 Qualification and competence building, AKIS’, which is an integrated topic relating to cross-cutting objective QZ10, AKIS (Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems) and the digital strategy. The evaluation question is: "To what extent has the GSP, based on a strategic approach (Chapter 8 GSP), contributed to improving the national AKIS and supported the transfer and application of knowledge, innovations and digital solutions in the agricultural sector and for actors in rural regions, and how can these effects be assessed in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, relevance/appropriateness, coherence and EU added value?"
In 2025, an analysis of data requirements and data availability for the ex-post evaluation was carried out. For the first time, a comprehensive data set on participants in continuing education measures was available for the period 2015 to 2024. The data set can be linked to INVEKOS data via the company number. The linked data sets are evaluated for the ex-post evaluation using descriptive statistics and, for example, allow for the first time a differentiated analysis of which companies and individuals are reached by continuing education measures and which are not. The company's own analyses are supplemented by the results of evaluation studies and other current research projects.
For the implementation evaluation in 2026, it will be examined whether the new data set can be used to identify causal effects of continuing education participation on business and environmental indicators and which methods are suitable for this purpose.
Since knowledge and innovation are cross-cutting issues, there is regular exchange with other evaluators. In addition, the evaluation team participates in monitoring committees for evaluation studies in this field.
Work package ‘Competitiveness and farm succession’
(Work package management: Christoph Tribl, Josef Hambrusch; collaboration: Dieter Kömle, Martin Weigl, Julian Zeilinger)
- Ex-post evaluation of LE 14–20:
1) Evaluation of SPB 2A (improvement of the economic performance of all agricultural holdings, support for farm restructuring and modernisation, particularly with a view to increasing market participation and orientation as well as agricultural diversification) with the core project type (VHA) VHA 4.1.1 – ‘Investments in agricultural production’ and the evaluation question ‘To what extent have the interventions under the rural development programme contributed to improving the economic performance, restructuring and modernisation of the supported agricultural holdings, in particular by increasing market participation and agricultural diversification?’.
2) Evaluation of SPB 2B (facilitating access to the agricultural sector for suitably qualified farmers and, in particular, generational change) with core VHA 6.1.1 – ‘Start-up aid for young farmers’ and the evaluation question ‘To what extent have the interventions under the rural development programme promoted access to the agricultural sector for suitably qualified farmers and, in particular, generational renewal?’.
These two SPBs are assigned to Priority 2, ‘Improving the viability of agricultural holdings and the competitiveness of all types of agriculture in all regions and promoting innovative agricultural techniques and sustainable forest management.’ To answer the evaluation questions, research collaborations are planned for SPB 2A and an external study is planned for SPB 2B.
- Evaluation of GSP 23–27:
1) ET_A01_3 ‘Competitiveness of agricultural holdings and the sector’ (assigned to SZ 02 ‘Stronger market orientation and increased competitiveness of agricultural holdings’ and general CAP objective A – ‘Promoting the agricultural sector and food security’). This evaluation topic is particularly associated with investment interventions (e.g. V73-01 – ‘Investments in agricultural production’). The evaluation question is: ‘To what extent has the GSP contributed to increasing the competitiveness of agricultural and forestry holdings, and how can these effects be assessed in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, relevance/appropriateness and coherence?’
2) ET_A0203_4 ‘Market orientation’ (assigned to SZ 02 or general CAP objective A) with interventions such as V73-02 – ‘Processing and marketing’, V77-01 – ‘Participation in quality schemes for food and ornamental plants’ or sectoral interventions in the fruit and vegetable sector. The evaluation question is: ‘To what extent has the GSP contributed to increasing the market orientation of agricultural and forestry businesses through the production and processing of quality products and improved vertical cooperation along the value chain, and how can these effects be assessed in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, relevance/appropriateness and coherence?’
3) ET_C07_6 ‘Farm succession and business development’ with two evaluation questions (the SZ 07 – ‘Increasing attractiveness for young farmers; facilitating business development’ and the general CAP objective C – ‘Strengthening the socio-economic fabric in rural areas’) with the associated interventions V30-01 – ‘Supplementary income support for young farmers’, V75-01 – ‘Support for the establishment of young farmers’ and V73-08 – ‘Investments in diversification activities, including processing and marketing of agricultural products’. Two evaluation questions are assigned to this evaluation topic: ‘To what extent has the GSP contributed to increasing the attractiveness of agriculture for young farmers and facilitating the transfer of farms within and outside the family, and how can these effects be assessed in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, relevance/appropriateness and coherence?’; ‘To what extent has the GSP contributed to supporting the diversification of agricultural holdings, and how should this impact be assessed in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, relevance/appropriateness and coherence?’
Research collaborations are planned as part of the evaluation topic ‘Competitiveness’, and external studies are planned as part of the evaluation topics ‘Market orientation’ and ‘Farm succession and business development’. The research collaborations and external studies for the evaluation of GSP 23-27 are also related to the planned activities for the ex-post evaluation of LE 14-20, based on the data available at the time of the respective evaluation.
Work package Research Cooperation Bavaria-South Tyrol-Austria (BAB Project, TU Munich, BAB):
(AP Head BAB: Julian Zeilinger; BAB Staff: Christoph Tribl, Josef Hambrusch)
In this project and in connection with the AP ‘Competitiveness and Farm Succession’, the project ‘Circular Economy for Increasing Agricultural Productivity in Austria & Bavaria’ (BAB Project, TU Munich, BAB; duration 2026-2028) is also supported by BAB as part of the Bavaria-South Tyrol-Austria research cooperation. The BAB is responsible for the content of the research cooperation in this AP. The aim of the project is to integrate bio-based circular economy into the assessment of the productivity of agricultural businesses. In this way, the economic performance and environmental performance of businesses that differ in their degree of implementation of circular economy can be compared. It is planned that the results of the research cooperation will also be used for evaluation purposes.
Work package ‘Household income of agricultural enterprises’
(AP management: Gerhard Gahleitner; collaboration: Julian Zeilinger)
- Evaluation GSP 23–27:
ET_A01_1 ‘Household income of agricultural enterprises’ (assigned to SZ 01 or to the general CAP objective A).
Interventions such as V21-01 Basic Payment I, V21-02 Basic Payment 2, V20-01 Redistributive Payment, V30-01 Payment for Young Farmers, V71-01 Compensatory Allowance, etc. are assigned to the evaluation topic. The two corresponding evaluation questions are: ‘To what extent has the CAP contributed to improving agricultural and non-agricultural incomes, and how can these effects be assessed in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, relevance/appropriateness and coherence?’ and ‘To what extent has the GSP contributed to reducing the volatility of agricultural incomes and narrowing the income gap, and how should these effects be assessed in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, relevance/appropriateness and coherence?’
In addressing the evaluation topic, the primary focus will be on collecting and analysing multi-year microeconomic data from farms that voluntarily keep accounts for the Green Report.
Work package ‘Environment and Climate’
(AP management: Julia Niedermayr; collaboration: Christoph Tribl)
- Ex-post evaluation of LE 14–20:
Consolidation of the results from the relevant SPBs to answer evaluation question 28 based on the evaluations of the SPBs for priorities 4 and 5: ‘To what extent has the rural development programme contributed to the CAP objective of ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources and climate action?’
Summary of the main findings for CAP objective 2 – ‘Ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources and climate action’. The evaluation team coordinates with the evaluators of the respective SPBs.
The ex-post evaluation of LE 14-20 is therefore based on the evaluation results of the evaluators of these SPBs and can only be carried out once the respective evaluation reports are available. The evaluation team coordinates with the evaluators of the SPB as necessary and supports the BMLUK in formulating and monitoring evaluation studies where appropriate. The work of the evaluation team ties in with the activities for the preparation of the 2019 mid-term evaluation report.
- Evaluation of GSP 23–27:
ET_B ‘Overarching evaluation of general CAP objective B’ with two evaluation questions: The overarching evaluation of general CAP objective B builds on the results of the evaluations of SZ 04 (promotion of climate protection, adaptation to climate change and sustainable energy), SZ 05 (sustainable management of natural resources (water, soil, air) and reduction of dependence on chemicals) and SZ 06 (contribution to halting and reversing biodiversity loss, improving ecosystem services and preserving habitats and landscapes) and can only be carried out once the respective evaluation reports are available. The evaluation team will liaise with the SZ evaluators as necessary.
With regard to the CAP 23-27, the objective of this AP is the overall assessment of CAP general objective B (‘Supporting and strengthening environmental protection, including biodiversity, climate change mitigation and contributing to the achievement of the Union's environmental and climate-related objectives, including its commitments under the Paris Agreement’).
According to the evaluation plan for the CAP 23-27, the following two evaluation questions must be answered for the evaluation topic ‘Overall assessment of CAP general objective B’ (ET_B):
1) ‘To what extent has the GSP contributed to increasing environmental and climate impacts and to achieving set environmental and climate goals, and how can these impacts be assessed in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, relevance/utility, coherence and EU added value?’
2) ‘What environmental and climate-related interactions exist between GSP interventions, and how are potential negative interactions for the environment and climate mitigated or offset?’
According to the evaluation plan, the following SZs are assigned to the general CAP objective B and are relevant for the overall assessment:
SZ04: Promoting climate protection, adaptation to climate change and sustainable energy
SO05: Sustainable management of natural resources (water, soil, air) and reduction of dependence on chemicals
SO06: Contribution to halting and reversing biodiversity loss, improving ecosystem services and preserving habitats and landscapes
The evaluation of the general CAP objective B is therefore based on the evaluation results of the evaluators of this SZ and can only be carried out once the respective evaluation reports are available. The evaluation team coordinates with the evaluators of the SZ as necessary and supports the BMLUK in formulating and monitoring evaluation studies.
Work package ‘Equality’
(AP management: Theresia Oedl-Wieser; collaboration: Erika Quendler, Katrin Hofer (BAB Project), Martina Schorn)
- Ex-post evaluation of LE 14–20:
With regard to the ex-post evaluation of LE 14-20, the extent to which an equality evaluation will be carried out will be clarified at the beginning of 2026. The equality evaluation is expected to draw on the results of the expert report ‘Evaluation of data on selected investment measures of the Austrian Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 with a focus on gender equality’, the evaluation results of the ‘CLLD/LEADER’ and ‘Education and Advice’ interventions, and the results of the accompanying study on the evaluation of the ‘Netzwerk Zukunftsraum Land’ (Network for the Future of Rural Areas).
- Evaluation of GSP 23–27:
ET_Q1 ‘Equality’: For the evaluation of the topic ‘equal opportunities’ in GSP 23–27, specific questions have been formulated for 16 gender-related interventions, which are to be addressed by the evaluators. In addition, accompanying studies have been commissioned to conduct in-depth analyses of upcoming questions and issues. Work on the 2026 study on women farmers began in October 2025; and another evaluation study will be commissioned in 2026 on the topic of gender equality in investment measures (73-01 Investments in agricultural production, 73-08 Investments in diversification activities). The evaluation question on the evaluation topic of ‘gender equality’ (ET_Q1) in relation to the CAP 23-27 is: ‘To what extent has the CAP contributed to improving gender equality and work-life balance, supporting social and political participation and social diversity, and how can these effects be assessed in terms of effectiveness, efficiency (administrative implementation), relevance/appropriateness, coherence and EU added value?’ In addition to this general question, specific gender equality objectives are formulated for selected measures (currently 13), which are to be answered by the evaluators in the course of the accompanying evaluation. The evaluation results can then be used to answer the gender equality question. Furthermore, the evaluation team will support the BMLUK in formulating accompanying research studies.
Work package ‘LEADER/CLLD’
(AP management: Ingrid Machold; collaboration: Theresia Oedl-Wieser, Katrin Hofer (BAB Project), Martina Schorn)
Ex-post evaluation of LE 14–20:
Evaluation of the LEADER/CLLD (Community-Led Local Development) measure: As part of the evaluation of this measure, the 2019 mid-term evaluation report on LE 14–20 will be updated on the basis of current data and our own evaluations and analyses.
- Evaluation of GSP 23–27:
ET_C08_1 ‘Added value of LEADER’: The available data will be evaluated and analysed for the evaluation of LEADER in GSP 23–27. Accompanying studies will be commissioned for an in-depth examination of relevant topics.
The evaluation question on the evaluation topic ‘Added value of LEADER’ (ET_C08_1) in relation to GSP 23-27 is: "To what extent has LEADER/CLLD [Community-Led Local Development] implementation model within the framework of the GSP contributed to local development work, achieved an improvement in social capital in the local environment and local governance, and contributed to positive change in the socio-economic dynamics in local areas through projects and initiatives with high acceptance and local/regional benefits, and how can these effects be assessed in terms of effectiveness, efficiency (administrative implementation), relevance/appropriateness, coherence and EU added value?" In addition, the evaluation team will support the BMLUK in formulating accompanying research studies.
Work package ‘Mobility and Broadband Infrastructure’
(AP Head: Oliver Tamme)
- Ex-post evaluation of LE 14–20:
For the ex-post evaluation of LE 14-20, it is planned to analyse certain measures relating to mobility and broadband infrastructure based on current data and evaluations, following the approach taken in the mid-term evaluation of LE 14-20 in 2019. Details are still being clarified with the Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Climate Protection (BMLUK).
- Evaluation of GSP 23–27:
The evaluation activities will be clarified together with the BMLUK in the course of 2026.
Timetable
Project start: 01/2024
Project duration: 12/2032
