European Environmental Policy - The Making of Environmental and Climate Policies in Brussels

Description
The seminar will provide information on today's agenda. What are the latest developments with respect to environmental directives and regulations? Against this background, the role of procedures, institutions and working groups, and committees in the field of environmental and climate policy, will be discussed in detail. How can we understand and influence the decision-making process in the environmental field and what features are relevant for our own work? What are the particularities of DG Environment, the Council working groups and the Environment Committee of the European Parliament? And most importantly for national experts: how are directives negotiated in the working groups of the Council? How has the decision-making framework changed? How do Commissioners and officials in the Commission, Council working groups and COREPER react to the new pressing climate change agenda?

Objectives
The seminar will focus on examples of recent legislation and the role of actors and institutions in the decision-making process. This will be done in an interactive way through simulation games using the examples of recent environmental legislation. The seminar will also provide updated documentation on policy proposals, working groups and committees, and on important contacts and sources of information in the environment field.

Target Group
The seminar has been designed for officials working in national and regional administrations, non-governmental organisations and academics who deal with or monitor EU environmental and climate policy. It is meant for beginners as well as for officials who wish to
update their knowledge of legislation and decision making.

Programme
The seminar takes place in Maastricht and will commence on Monday at 09.00 and will finish on Tuesday at 17.00. Registration of participants on Monday starts at 08.45.

Seminar Venue
The seminar will take place at the Bordeaux Conference Room (1.16) of the European Institute of Public Administration, O.L. Vrouweplein 22, NL-6211 HE Maastricht, tel.: +31.43.3296222, fax: +31.43.3296296.

Working language
The seminar will be conducted in English.

Fee
The participation fee is € 650 and includes documentation, 2 lunches, 1 dinner and refreshments. Accommodation and travel costs are at the expense of the participants or their administration.

Hotel
The European Institute of Public Administration will be pleased to make hotel reservations for you at a hotel in Maastricht. We have made a block booking at Hotel Beaumont**** (www.beaumont.nl), at the rate of ± € 99,62 p.p.p.n. (incl. breakfast and tourist tax). Should you wish to make use of this possibility, please indicate 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
Lunches will take place at the Institute’s restaurant. Dinner on Monday evening will take place at a restaurant in Maastricht city centre. 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 18 September 2009.

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. For cancellations received after the closing date indicated on the registration form we will have to charge an administration fee of € 150 unless a replacement participant is found.