MATISSE: Methods and tools for integrated sustainability assessment

Matisse is a three year (2005-2007) research project funded by the European Commission, 6th Framework Programme (Global Change and Ecosystems). The project aims at achieving a step-by-step advance in the science and application of Integrated Sustainability Assessments (ISA) of EU policies, by improving existing tools and methods for conducting ISA.

ISA is a cross-sectoral approach to assessing sustainable development at a high, strategic level, involving a long-term, comprehensive assessment of EU policy programmes against sustainability targets and criteria.

The core activity of MATISSE is to improve the tool kit available for ISA, notably state-of-the-art computer models, and link them to participatory methods. The improved tool kit for ISA aims to support the European Commission and other actors in the governance hierarchy that seek to apply ISA in a wide range of contexts.

The project consortium involves 20 European partners.