Study on the extent to which and how Member States used the ESF and the ERDF in the programming periods 2007-2013 and 2014-2020 to support their justice system

The study presents how 16 EU Member States used the European Social Fund and the European Regional Development Fund in the 2007-2013 and 2014-2020 programming periods to develop their justice systems. It provides clear information about programming documents, evaluations, evaluation plans, Annual Implementation Reports and needs assessments that identify the need to support the justice system in these Member States. In most cases, these needs and priorities are reflected in the Operational Programmes. The indicators set out in the Operational Programmes and used in Member States often cover public administration as well.

The study shows that support for justice systems in the EU Member States is still an emerging area for cohesion policy. The comparison between the two programming periods is also based on data like the number of justice projects funded and the budget allocated to these projects during the first three years of programming periods, the beneficiary bodies, the types of activities featured in the different projects and their funding. Finally, the study also analyses the existence of any evaluation or other type of follow-up made by Member States.