State Aid Policy and Practice in the European Community - An Integrative and Interactive Approach (with an Introductory Workshop on 22 March 2010)

Description
The European Union has exclusive competence in the establishment “of the competition rules necessary for the functioning of the internal market” (Article 3 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union). The Treaty also stipulates that the internal market includes “a system ensuring that competition is not distorted”. However, competition can be distorted both by restrictive practices of companies and by subsidies granted by central and local governments of the Member States. Therefore, the European Union has developed an elaborate system of rules and procedures to prevent public authorities from using state aid to support inefficient industries and offer unfair incentives to attract mobile capital.

Objective
The purpose of the seminar is to examine in depth the interpretation and application of the Treaty rules and of the regulations, guidelines and notices that have been developed by the Commission over the years. Main Commission decisions and Community courts’ rulings are analysed so that participants obtain a better understanding of the factors that shape those decisions and rulings.

Method
A mixture of training tools is used, such as lectures, case analyses and working groups with the aim to emphasise the acquisition of knowledge, which is immediately relevant to the work of officials dealing with state aid.

Target group
The seminar will be most useful to officials with fair understanding of state aid, particularly middle managers and senior officials from all levels of government and local authorities, officials from public enterprises, academics, representatives of business and trade associations and other practitioners.

In addition, for the beginners in the state aid area, there is an Introductory Workshop on the afternoon of Monday 22 March 2010. This presents the basic principles of state aid policy and offers an opportunity to work together on a number of cases.

Participants will receive a copy of the latest edition of our book “State Aid Policy in the European Community: Principles and Practice”, which is published in cooperation with Kluwer.

Important notice: In view of the strong demand for state aid seminars, EIPA operates a system of first-come-first-serve. The seminars tend to be fully booked well in advance of the registration deadline. Please submit your registration as soon as possible.

Programme
The programme will commence with an optional Introductory Workshop on Monday afternoon 22 March 2010, 14 hrs. The main Seminar will commence on Tuesday morning 23 March at 9.00 hrs and finish on Wednesday 24 March at 16.00 hrs.

Seminar venue
The Seminar will take place in the Green Conference Room (1.45) at 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
€ 200: Participation in the Introductory Workshop on Monday 22 March 2010. The participation fee includes documentation distributed during the Workshop, and refreshments.

€ 875: Participation in the Seminar which starts on Tuesday 23 March 2010. The participation fee includes documentation distributed during the seminar, two lunches, one reception and refreshments.

Participants will receive a copy of the 2008 edition of our book “State Aid Policy in the European Community: Principles and Practice”, which is published in cooperation with Kluwer.

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, 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 2 hotels in Maastricht:
Hotel Beaumont**** (www.beaumont.nl), at a rate of € 102 p.p.p.n. (incl. breakfast and tourist), and
Hotel Mabi**** (www.hotel-mabi.nl), at a rate of € 100 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.

Accommodation and travel costs are at the expense of the participants or their administration.

Meals/Reception
The lunches will be served at the Institute’s restaurant. The reception on Tuesday 23 March will be held as well 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 forms and return them before 2 March 2010 to Ms Winny Curfs, Programme Organiser, European Institute of Public Administration, P.O. Box 1229, NL-6201 BE Maastricht, tel.: +31.43.3296320, fax: +31.43.3296296, e-mail: w.curfs@eipa.eu. You can also submit the online registration form. Please submit your registration as soon as possible. Since our State Aid seminars tend to be fully booked well in advance of the registration deadline, EIPA operates a system of first-come-first-serve.

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 cancellations received after 2 March we will have to charge an administration fee of € 150 unless a replacement participant is found.

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).