Delivering the European Social Fund (ESF) 2007-2013

For more information about the activity, please contact:

Target Group
The seminar is aimed at all actors in the European Social Fund policy, programming and implementation process, including national, regional and local officials and representatives, social partners, agencies with an economic and social development role, educational and training establishments, and other local partners, including NGOs, community associations and chambers of commerce.

Description
This 2-day seminar will address issues relating to the new European Social Fund in the second year of its implementation in the programming period 2007-2013. There will be two sessions, one on support to social and economic partners and one on capacity building in public administrations. The seminar will include country and regional case study sessions, as well as the management of ESF Global Grants for SME development, the anticipation of labour market needs, and changes in the financial management of ESF programmes.

Method
The seminar will consist of a series of presentations given by European Commission officials, regional practitioners and expert consultants. There will be ample time for question and answer sessions, discussions and exchanges of experience.

Objectives
By the end of the seminar participants should have a clear understanding of the new ESF programming priorities and of how to implement the ESF regulations and to best develop and support complex projects.

Programme
The programme will commence on Thursday 17 December at 08.45 and finish on Friday 18 December at 15.45.

Seminar venue
The seminar will take place at the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA), O.L. Vrouweplein 22, NL-6211 HE Maastricht, tel.: +31.43.3296.222, fax: +31.43.3296.296.

Working language
The seminar will be conducted in English.

Fee
The participation fee is € 825 and includes participation in the seminar, documentation, two lunches, one reception and refreshments.
Accommodation and travel costs are at the expense of the participants or their administration.
EIPA offers its members a reduction of 10% of the registration fee. This reduction is available to all civil servants working for one of EIPA’s member countries (i.e. AT, BE, BG, CY, CZ, DK, EE, FI, FR, DE, GR, HU, IE, IT, LT, LU, MT, NL, PL, PT, ES, SE, UK) as well as civil servants working for an EU institution or agency. If you are eligible for a discount, please tick the box in the registration form. Please note that reductions cannot be accumulated. For more information, please visit EIPA’s website: www. eipa.eu (FAQ-special discounts).

Hotel reservations
The European Institute of Public Administration will be pleased to make reservations for you at a hotel in Maastricht. We have made a block booking at two hotels in Maastricht: Hotel Beaumont**** (www. beaumont.nl), at a rate of € 99,77 p.p.p.n. (incl. breakfast and tourist tax) and Grand Hotel de l’Empereur **** (www.hotel-empereur.nl), at a rate of € 108,27 p.p.p.n. (incl. breakfast and tourist tax). Should you wish to make use of this possibility, please indicate the name of the hotel and the dates of arrival and departure on the registration form. Payment is to be made directly and personally to the hotel on checking out. Please note that if you register after the closing date, hotel reservations cannot be guaranteed.

Meals
All meals will be served at the Institute’s restaurant. Should you require a special menu (e.g. vegetarian, diabetic), please inform the Programme Organiser so that this can be arranged.

Registration
Kindly complete the registration form and return it before 27 November 2009 to Ms Brechtje Adriaanse, Programme Organiser, European Institute of Public Administration, P.O. Box 1229, NL-6201 BE Maastricht, tel.: +31.43.3296.235, fax: +31.43.3296.296, e-mail: b.adriaanse@eipa.eu. You can also submit the online registration form which can be found on EIPA’s web site: http://www.eipa.eu/en/activities/show/&tid=2967. Your name and address will be part of EIPA’s database for our mailing purpose only. If you do not want to be included in our mailing database, please tick the box in the registration form.

Confirmation
Confirmation of registration will be forwarded to participants on receipt of the completed registration form.

Payment
Prior payment is a condition for participation. Please indicate the method of payment on the registration form. In any case, the participant or his/her administration will receive an invoice for the payment of the registration fee. For administrative reasons you will be charged € 150 for cancellations received within 15 days before the activity begins. There is no charge for qualified substitute participants.

Cancellation policy
EIPA reserves the right to cancel the seminar up to 2 weeks before the starting date. EIPA accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred (travel, hotel, etc.). For EIPA’s cancellation policy, please visit our website www. eipa.eu (legal notice).