SOcial multi CRiteria AssessmenT of European policieS

SMCE, and with it its implementation SOCRATES, is a methodological framework for taking a plurality of impacts into account, e.g. socio-economic, environmental, cultural, etc. Indeed already today, most IA studies are based on a multi-criteria framework, but in a very broad sense. They use the general idea that an IA study is multidimensional in nature, but they are often based on a qualitative analysis of the various impacts. The importance of mathematical approaches in SMCE is their ability to allow a consistent aggregation of the diverse information.

In summary, why SMCE and why SOCRATES in IA studies? 

• SMCE is a well-established methodology for impact assessments. It provides structured steps to build the impact matrix and rank all the feasible policy options. This second step is not present in many EC IA studies and this can be considered a weakness of the current practice.  SOCRATES aims at tackling this weakness.
• By applying SMCE, it is possible to add consistency between the problem structuring and the selection of a desirable option, thus improving transparency too. 
• By using SOCRATES, it is possible to assure repeatability of the calculation; which adds to the overall goal of transparency desired in the new BR COM.