Supporting SME and Enterprise Development through EU Programmes and Policies

Project Leader

Target Group
The seminar is aimed at practitioners from national and subnational authorities and from other public bodies of the EU Member States and associated countries working with Structural funds. This seminar is also open to Regional Development Agencies, Chambers of Commerce involved in facilitating the creation of new business and promoting the development of entrepreneurship, especially with respect to SMEs. The seminar will be conducted in English.

Description
This seminar will provide participants with a complete overview on how to implement programmes for SME within the Structural Funds and how to access the direct EU programmes for SME. We will learn about the rules of state aid on SME, the implementation of EU Small Business Act, and how to make use of EU programmes for SME like the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development, the 23 Bn euro within the Structural Funds including the financial instruments in EIB such as JEREMIE; and the 8 billion Euro that Europe spends annually on international cooperation. This is crucial since SME play an important role in promoting growth, as they are around 99% of all European enterprises, and in reinforcing competitiveness or boosting employment. All policy makers must therefore develop a more entrepreneur-friendly environment and proper support programmes in order to move from Lisbon towards the next objectives of Europe 2020.

Method
There will be a series of presentations by regional practitioners, expert consultants and EU officials. Each presentation will leave time for a question and answer session; discussions and exchanges of experience will be encouraged. Mini-workshops and exercises will be used to develop simulations of essential elements and to generate a clear view of good practice in the key disciplines involved.

Objectives
By the end of the seminar participants should have a clear understanding of how to deliver proper programmes for SME in the Structural Funds and how to access other direct EU programmes for implementing good SME projects.

Programme
The programme will commence on Thursday 25 November at 09.00 hrs and finish on Friday 26 November at 17.00 hrs.

Seminar venue
The seminar 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 seminar will be conducted in English.

Fee
The participation fee is € 725 and includes 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, BG, CY, CZ, DK, EE, FI, FR, DE, GR, HU, IE, IT, LT, LU, MT, NL, PL, PT, ES, SE, UK).

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 € 101,85 p.p.p.n. (incl. breakfast and tourist tax), and Townhouse Hotel (www.townhousehotels. nl) , at a rate of € 82, 35 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
The lunches will be served at the Institute’s restaurant and dinner in the evening will be 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 submit it before 4 November 2010. 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 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.

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)