Methodology
A transparent, evidence-based framework for tracking EU policy implementation
Measuring implementation, not ambition
Europe's competitiveness challenge is no longer about identifying what needs to be done, nut whether reforms are delivered
The Draghi Observatory & Implementation Index is designed to measure policy delivery, not policy intent. Rather than tracking announcements, strategies, or targets, the Observatory assesses whether the reforms recommended in the Draghi Report on European Competitiveness are actually being implemented at EU level.
This focus reflects a simple premise: Europe's competitiveness challenge is no longer about identifying what needs to be done, but about whether and how reforms are delivered.
From policy recommendations
to measurable outcomes
The Observatory’s methodology builds on the pledge–enactment approach, a well- established framework in comparative political science used to assess whether political commitments translate into real-world action.
Originally developed to track the fulfillment of electoral pledges, this approach has been adapted by the Draghi Observatory to evaluate the implementation of policy recommendations contained in the Draghi Report. The core logic is straightforward:
- Each recommendation is treated as a measurable commitment
- Implementation is assessed against observable policy outcomes
- Progress is classified using consistent, transparent criteria
This approach has been widely applied in both academic research and real-time policy observatories in Europe and beyond
How the index works
The Draghi Implementation Index aggregates the implementation status of all recommendations in the Draghi Report into a single, comparable indicator.
- Implemented – The recommendation has been fully adopted and operationalised at EU level
- Partially implemented – Key elements have been adopted, but implementation remains incomplete
- Announced / in progress – Political commitment exists, but no binding or operational measures are in place
- Untouched – No meaningful action has been taken
The headline index score reflects the share of measures fully implemented, providing a clear snapshot of overall delivery.
Sectoral analysis
In addition to the overall index, the Observatory applies the same methodology at sectoral level. This allows users to identify where implementation gaps are concentrated across key areas of the European economy, such as energy, digital infrastructure, industry, and transport.
Sectoral indexes are derived by mapping Draghi Report recommendations to the sectors they primarily affect and assessing their implementation status using the same criteria as the overall index.
Sectoral results are published progressively and should be read as preliminary until the full sectoral coverage is completed.
Editors
Antonios Nestoras
Data Analyst
Kostantinos Saravakos
Editor
Expert panel assessment
Implementation assessments are informed by a panel of experts drawn from academia, think tanks, and policy institutions across Europe.
Expert panels are a standard and widely validated method in comparative policy analysis and governance indicators, including in major international projects measuring democracy, rule of law, and policy performance.
20+
experts
9
countries
12
institutions
The Draghi Observatory is a living platform. Scores and classifications are updated as new legislation is adopted, amended, or implemented.
All updates follow the same methodological rules, ensuring that changes over time reflect real policy developments rather than shifts in interpretation.
Join the Panel of experts
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