Target group The seminar aims to equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of the new environmental guidelines and related environmental policies.
Objectives
The seminar is designed for officials from central ministries and/ or other authorities dealing with state aid and environmental protection issues and managers from public or private enterprises who may be involved in the formulation and implementation of environmental state aid schemes.
This two-day seminar introduces the state aid guidelines for environmental protection as well as the objective and developments of the European Union’s environmental policy. This is followed by an in-depth focus on feed-in tariffs and eco-taxation
Method
The seminar will use a mixture of training methods. The lectures are given by EIPA experts, Commission officials and Member State representatives. The speakers will have different backgrounds so as to provide a variety of views and perspectives. The seminar includes a workshop with various case-studies.
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.
DAY 1 (Thursday, 11 February 2010)
Welcome and Introduction
Prof. Phedon Nicolaides, European Policies Unit, EIPA, Maastricht (NL)
Ms Maria Kleis, Project Leader, European Policies Unit, EIPA, Maastricht (NL)
Mr Martin Unfried, Project Leader, European Policies Unit, EIPA, Maastricht (NL)
Part 1: Basic Principles
Environmental Objectives and Instruments: The Broader Picture of Environmental Aid
Mr Martin Unfried
EC Rules on State Aid: The Meaning of Aid, Compatibility with the Common Market, Possible Exceptions and the “De Minimis” Rule
Prof. Phedon Nicolaides
State Aid for Environmental Protection: The Guidelines, the GBER and First Experiences
European Commission, DG Competition, Brussels (BE) (To be confirmed)
Part 2: Calculating Eligible Costs
Cost Calculation
Mr. Melvin Könings, Senior Consultant, Lysias Consulting Group, Amersfoort (NL)
Part 3: Workshop - Case Studies (e.g. Eligible Costs, Identifying Beneficiaries, Eco-Taxes, and Comparator/Benchmark)
Discussion in Working Groups
DAY 2 (Friday, 12 February 2010)
Part 3: Workshop - Case Studies (continue)
Plenary Session: Presentation Outcome Working Groups
Part 4: Feed-In Tariffs: Concept and State Aid Elements
Promoting Renewable Energy through Feed-in Tariffs
Head of Unit "Renewable Energies", Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research, Karlsruhe, (DE)
Overview of Commission Decisions on Feed-in Tariffs
Ms Maria Kleis
National Experience: The Austrian Green Electricity Act
Ms Sibylle Summer, Federal Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth / Austrian State Aid Coordination Office, Vienna (AT)
Part 5: The new Climate Action Legislation and Eco Taxation
Ms Susanne Akerfeldtand Mr Björn Strenger, Ministry of Finance, Stockholm, (SE)
State Aid and Eco-Taxation
Ms Brigitta Renner-Loquenz, Deputy Head of Unit, DG Competition, State Aids Unit, European Commission, Brussels (BE) (To be confirmed)
Programme
The programme will commence on Thursday 11 February at 09.00 hrs and finish on Friday 12 February at 16.45 hrs.
Seminar venue
The seminar will take place in the Bordeaux Room (1.16) at the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA), 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 for each seminar is €795 and includes participation in the seminar, documentation, 2 lunches, 1 dinner 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, 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 the following hotel in Maastricht:
Hotel Beaumont**** (www.beaumont.nl) at a rate of € 99,62 p.p.p.n*. (incl. breakfast and tourist).
Should you wish to make use of this possibility, please indicate as well as 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
The lunches will be served at the Institute’s restaurant and dinner on Thursday evening will be served at a restaurant in town. 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 22 January 2010 to Ms Winny Curfs, Programme Organiser, European Institute of Public Administration, P.O. Box 1229, NL-6201 BE Maastricht, tel.: +31.43.3296.320, fax: +31.43.3296.296, e-mail: w.curfs@eipa-nl.com. You can also submit the online registration form which can be found on EIPA’s web site: http://www.eipa.nl (conferences).
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 22 January 2010 we will have to charge an administration fee of € 150 unless a replacement participant is found.