The objective of the evaluation is to analyse the long-term contribution (direct and indirect as well as expected and unexpected) of 10 selected ERDF or Cohesion Fund major investment projects to the economic development as well as the quality of life and well-being of citizens, including also effects for the environment.

The major project will be drawn from a particular policy area: transport, environment, energy and information and communication infrastructure, taking into account the importance of major projects in these policy areas in 2 programming periods — 2000–2006 and 2007–2013.

The Commission will first conclude a 1-year contract in 2017 focusing on transport infrastructures. This contract may be renewed up to 3 times for 12 months each time. The policy areas to be covered by the subsequent 12-month contracts will be: environment (2018); energy (2019); information society and research and development infrastructure (2020).

The contract to be concluded in 2017, as well as each individual renewal, will cover 10 major infrastructure projects co-financed by the ERDF or CF, adopted between 2000 and 2013 and operational for at least 5 years at the launch of the evaluation. The total cost of each project is over 50 000 000 EUR.

The sample of 10 major projects for the contract to be concluded in 2017 will be drawn from projects in the area of transport. The sample of 10 major projects for the subsequent 12-month contracts will be drawn from projects in the area of environment (2018); energy (2019); information society and research and development infrastructure (2020).