AbstractDespite significant efforts by the European Union (EU) member states (MS) and regions, the role of evaluation in the cohesion policy (CP) is limited, mainly because of issues associated with selecting appropriate evaluation methods. Thus, this article develops a guide for selecting evaluation methods depending on the intervention type and evaluation criteria, which are specific to the evaluation questions. In all the cases, it is recommended to combine various methods, as the complexity of the interventions, along with the participatory character of the CP and the weaknesses of each method, require their combined application. We propose 22 methods and recommend combining three to seven of them for each of the five evaluation criteria (relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, utility, sustainability) and the nine main types of the CP's intervention. At the same time, issues associated with impact evaluations are clarified. It is highlighted that both the proposed combination of evaluation methods and the evaluative questions are indicative rather than restrictive. Their selection is directly connected to the authorities' needs on behalf of which the evaluation is conducted as well as the special conditions under which the intervention is implemented. The proposed guidelines may be useful to stakeholders involved in the evaluation of the CP on a practical level as well as for everyone involved in evaluating public policies more broadly, as appropriate evaluation enhances accountability, legitimacy, and informed decision making in all stages of a public policy's life cycle.