State Aid Master-Class and Case Analysis

Project Leaders

The Master Class is intended for public officials who already have a good understanding of state aid issues but want to improve their knowledge and skills on how to determine whether a public measure contains state aid and how to design state aid schemes that are compatible with EU rules. The Master Class is based on analysis of recent important Commission decisions and Court rulings.

An innovative feature of this event is that participants are expected to introduce, for discussion, cases on which they are currently working. Participants will therefore be required first to send, in advance, a summary of the case they wish to present and, second, to treat all material and information obtained during the Master Class confidentially (cases submitted by participants will not be  circulated outside EIPA).

The number of participants will be limited to a maximum of 15 so as to facilitate discussion and maximise learning effects. Priority will be given to former participants of the State Aid Seminars.

The Master Class will be run by EIPA’s experts on state aid, who have broad experience in working with public administrations. The working language will be English. Extensive documentation will be prepared by EIPA for use by participants.

Advantages
• Expert analysis: a number of cases will be critically and extensively examined.
• Practical skills: the aim of the Master Class is to impart knowledge that is directly useful in the every-day work of state aid officials.
• Small size: the number of participants will be limited, enabling extensive interaction.
• Personal attention: the small number of participants will guarantee that they will have ample opportunity to discuss issues of concern to them.
• Best practices: participants will learn from each other about problems encountered as well as solutions adopted by public authorities dealing with state aid in various EU Member States.

Programme
The programme will commence on Thursday 1 July 2010 at 9.00 hrs and finish on Friday 2 July at 16.00 hrs.

Seminar venue
The workshop will take place 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 workshop will be conducted in English.

Fee
The participation fee is € 955 and includes documentation, 2 lunches, 1 dinner and refreshments. 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).Accommodation and travel costs are at the expense of the participants or their administration. 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.

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 Hotel Derlon**** (www.derlon.com), at a rate of € 130 p.p.p.n. (incl. breakfast and tourist). 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
The lunches 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. A dinner will be organised for the participants on Thursday 1 July.

Registration
Kindly complete the online registration form and submit it before 21 June 2010. Since the number of participants is strictly limited to 15, please submit your registration, the required question form and the case form, duly completed, as soon as possible. EIPA operates a system of first-come-first-serve. Registration forms without completed question and case forms will not be taken into consideration.

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