Evaluating and enhancing policy impact for religious heritage reuse in rural areas: the REliHE Interreg Europe experience

This paper examines how policy instruments can be reoriented to support the reuse of religious heritage as a driver of rural development within the framework of the REliHE project (Interreg Europe 2021–2027). While religious buildings represent one of Europe’s most extensive and spatially distributed cultural asset systems, their future is constrained by rigid legal, funding and governance frameworks. The study proposes an institutional impact evaluation approach structured around Interreg Europe result indicators (RI3 – Policy Instruments Improved; II1 – Funds Influenced). Drawing on econometric evaluation theory, applied impact evaluation practice and UNESCO heritage impact assessment principles, the methodology combines documentary monitoring, intermediate institutional indicators and mid-term adaptive review. Findings show that meaningful heritage regeneration depends primarily on modifications to regional policy instruments rather than isolated site interventions. The paper concludes that adaptive, traceable institutional reform is essential to reposition religious heritage within territorial development strategies and to ensure measurable structural change under European Territorial Cooperation