In reality, the actual implementation effect (effectiveness and efficiency) of an environmental policy may differ from its theoretical potential or anticipated effects (efficacy). The APRAISE project aims to explain these differences by acknowledging that policies and policy instruments are not implemented in a vacuum, but in an existing system. The effectiveness and efficiency of environmental policy instruments therefore depend on the socioeconomic and governance systems within which they are implemented. A better understanding of these systems enables policymakers to design more robust policy instruments, which are adaptive to (foreseen) changes in their circumstances (contexts). The APRAISE 3E Method offers a tool to help policymakers better understand and more systematically analyse the context of individual policy instruments, with the ultimate goal of bringing effectiveness closer to efficacy. The method has been tested within
the context of six case studies carried out in a total of seven EU member states. Subsequently, the method has
been improved to help EU and member state policymakers allow for conclusions regarding future environmental
policies. For a subset of case studies, model scenarios have been developed to anticipate policy effects assuming
different economic and political futures.
