The challenge of introducing indicators in the evaluation and monitoring systems of Spanish Regional Plans

Abstract

The gradual process of Europeanisation of spatial planning has promoted the inclusion of new sustainable development goals and evaluation and monitoring systems within regional plans. However, in Spain, unlike other countries with national guidelines, this inclusion has not been done systematically. This paper aims to verify to what extent and how these evaluation and monitoring systems are being integrated within Spanish regional plans paying special attention to the use of indicators. The review of these current plans allows us to state that Spain is still in its initial stages, since ten of its seventeen Autonomous Communities have developed specific evaluation and monitoring programs, including the elaboration of plans and reports, of which only five have actually developed and implemented the use of indicators. In addition, the approaches used differ significantly between each other, both in the conceptualization of what should be measured, i.e. how sustainability is defined, and in the number and type of the selected assessment indicators. In the future, a higher convergence in the definition of evaluation standards and guidelines that include the use of indicators and synthetic indexes is advised, in order to ease comparison between different planning areas, enhance synergies and optimize resources.