Article 13
1. The annual report on the Seventh Framework Programme presented to the European Parliament and the Council pursuant to Article 173 of the Treaty shall include a summary of the activities of the Eurostars Joint Programme based on the annual report to be provided by the dedicated implementation structure to the Commission. 2. An interim evaluation of the Eurostars Joint Programme shall be carried out by the Commission two years after the start of the Eurostars Joint Programme and shall cover progress towards the objectives set out in Annex I. The evaluation shall also include recommendations on the most appropriate ways to further enhance scientific, management and financial integration and assess the ability, of R & D performing SMEs in particular, to access the Eurostars Joint Programme and the quality and efficiency of its implementation. The Commission shall communicate the conclusions thereof, accompanied by its observations and, where appropriate, proposals for the amendment of this Decision, to the European Parliament and the Council. 3. At the end of the Eurostars Joint Programme, the Commission shall conduct a final evaluation of the Programme. The results of the final evaluation shall be presented to the European Parliament and the Council.