Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) of EU Financed Projects - Why and How ?

Description
Decisions regarding investments are always at the core of any development strategy. Local, regional and national development and economic growth depend on quantity and quality of infrastructure, productive capital and its efficiency, human resources, know-how and quality of involved institutions. Each time such a decision has to be taken, there is a need to analyse costs against benefits of the planned investment. In order to synchronise requirements regarding methods of preparation and assessment of investment projects co-financed by ERDF, CF and IPA in the framework of EU Cohesion Policy, the EC defines and inserts them in EU relevant regulations*, guides and working documents being implemented in the programming period 2007 – 2013.

One of the most important requirements is the preparation of Cost – Benefit Analysis (CBA) for all investment projects eligible under EU Funds. The importance of this tool is even higher in the programming period 2007 – 2013, taking into account more complex process of projects appraisal in the framework of multi-level governance planning of the Cohesion Policy in comparison to the previous programming period, as well as in the context of major projects selection (50m€ in general, except environmental investment -25m€, and 10m€ for IPA).

Based on the indicative lists of projects eligible under Operational Programmes provided by Member States, EC estimates that at the end of 2007, more than 800 major projects had already been identified. Many others are in the pipeline or under preparation, which represents the number of decisions that have to be taken and proves the importance of CBA (budget for Cohesion Policy in 2007-2013: 350 billion€).

Objectives
The goal of this intensive three-day practical seminar is to explain WHY Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) is one of the most important tools in the programming period 2007 – 2013, not only for beneficiaries of EU Funds (key element of feasibility studies), but as well for national and regional administration - Managing Authorities and Intermediate Bodies of EU co-financed programmes in their decision making process regarding the indicative list of major investment projects. HOW to prepare and HOW to assess CBA is the second, practical element of this seminar-workshop. By the end of the seminar, participants will additionally have improved their theoretical and practical knowledge regarding elaboration and assessment of CBAs prepared for EU funding investment projects in the programming period 2007 – 2013, conform to the DG Regio requirements, including “Guide to COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS. Final Report. 16/06/2008”, implementing regulations, COCOF notes, Working Document No. 4, etc.

Target groups
Beneficiaries eligible under Structural Funds, Cohesion Fund and IPA (national, regional and local administrations, NGOs, agencies,  SMEs, associations, etc), Managing Authorities, Intermediate Bodies, consulting companies and other actors involved in EU Funding programmes and projects.

Method
Apart from traditional training methods, used only during the first day of the seminar (lectures and presentations, including concrete examples and case studies), the interactive approach will be applied. Participants will work in small working groups on concrete practical exercises - case studies with direct involvement of CBAs’ experts. There will be discussions in question and answer sessions after each practical part.

* Article 40 e of General Regulation 1083/2006, Article 157 of IPA Implementing Regulation 718/2007, etc

Seminar venue
Hotel NH Podium ****
C/ Bailén, 4-6 ,ES-08010 Barcelona

Working languages
English and Spanish. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided.

Registration
Participation fee: € 850 (includes: documentation, 2 lunches, a welcome dinner, coffee breaks, a certificate of attendance and a walking sight-seeing tour). Accommodation and travel costs are at the expense of the participants or their administration.

Deadline for registration: 05 March 2010.
The NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS IS LIMITED. (we will not accept any registration once the places available are covered)
Payment: you should pay after having received the confirmation of your registration and before the seminar. Please indicate the method of payment on the registration form. For cancellations received after the deadline we will have to charge an administration fee of € 150 unless an alternative participant is nominated.

Your name and address will be part of EIPA’s database for our mailing purposes only. If you do not want to be included in our mailing database, please tick the box in the registration form.

Hotel reservations
The EIPA-ECR will be pleased to make reservations for you at this hotel (where special rates are applied for EIPA-ECR participants): HOTEL NH PODIUM ****
C/ Bailén, 4-6/ 08010 – Barcelona (ES)
www.nh-hotels.com
€ 110 Double room for single use, breakfast buffet included (+ 7% VAT)
€ 120 Double room, breakfast buffet included (+ 7% VAT)
Should you wish to make use of this possibility, please indicate the dates of arrival and departure on the registration form as well as the type of room. Payment is to be made directly and personally to the hotel on checking out. Please note that if you register after the deadline, hotel reservations cannot be guaranteed.

Do not consider yourself registered as long as you have not received an e-mail from us confirming your registration.