A new set of indices for monitoring the effects of implementing new regional development policies of the European Union, as well as other sectoral policies with territorial effects, resulted into the creation of new flexible systems, able to increase the administrative capacity to access structural and cohesion funds. The novelty of this study consists of the original methodology embedding mathematical methods (i.e., the ELECTRE and the index of

Principal Component Analysis is a statistical instrument able to identify the variables explaining most variation within a sample. When the lines are administrative units within a region, and the input variable account for a specific issue (e.g., level of development etc.), Principal Component Analysis can be used to pinpoint the variables explaining mostly the specific issue. Moreover, if used in conjunction with GIS modeling, the entire approach