Target Group
This seminar is intended for officials of public authorities and of European Institutions, as well as for professionals from the private sector dealing with state aid granted to providers of services of general economic interest. Particularly, it would be of major interest to officials involved in the formulation of public service obligations, the award of contracts, the calculation of compensation and the notification of possible state aid to the European Commission.
Description/Objectives
The European Commission has opened a public consultation on SGEI. This is because Member States find it difficult to comply with the relevant EU rules. The purpose of this seminar is to examine in depth the interpretation and application of the Treaty provisions and the Commission implementing measures, the case-law developed by EU Courts in this field and national experiences. More specifically, the seminar will cover among others the following topics:
- Policy and legal developments in the field of SGEIs;
- The interpretation of Article 106(2) TFEU and the relationship between state aid and SGEIs;
- The methodology for ensuring the necessity and proportionality of state aid;
- In depth analysis of Altmark criteria;
- Application of Altmark criteria in subsequent Commission cases and Court’s jurisprudence (e.g. BUPA);
- The application of the Commission Decision and Framework on public service compensation;
- Sectoral application of SGEI (e.g. housing sector, postal sector, telecom sector).
This two-day seminar aims to provide participants with a thorough understanding of the concept of SGEI and highlight national experiences concerning problems and difficulties in managing SGEIs. It will offer guidance to participants on how to design and implement measures in conformity with the rules on state aid.
Method
A combination of presentations, case studies and working groups will be used. The lectures are given by EIPA experts, Commission officials and national representatives. The participants will be supplied with comprehensive documentation and relevant background materials.
Monday 27 September 2010
SESSION 1: PRINCIPLES
Welcome and Introduction
Services of general economic interest (SGEIs) in the EU and institutional competences
Dr Phedon Nicolaides, Professor, EIPA, Maastricht (NL)
Definition of SGEIs, services of general interest (SGIs) and social services
Dr Ioana Elenora Rusu, Research Assistant, EIPA, Maastricht (NL)
SESSION 2: CONDITIONS FOR ENTRUSTMENT AND COMPENSATION
Requirements for entrustment and methods of selection of providers
Prof Dr Wolf Sauter, University of Tilburg (NL)
Lunch
Necessity and proportionality of compensation and allocation of costs
Phedon Nicolaides
Case studies on compensation
Mr James Kavanagh, Senior Consultant, Oxera, Oxford (UK)
Tuesday 28 September 2010
SESSION 3: EXISTENCE OF STATE AID AND COMPA TIBILITY
Difficulties of complying with the Altmark ruling. Review of cases where the Altmark criteria were met/not met
Dr Mihalis Kekelekis, Senior Lecturer, EIPA, Maastricht (NL)
Public funding without state aid. The case of broadband sector in France
Mr Michel Debroux, Partner, Hogan Lovells, Paris (FR)
Conditions for authorisation of aid. The Commission Decision and Framework
Mr Nicola Pesaresi, Head of Unit, DG Competition – Unit A3, European Commission, Brussels (BE)
SESSION 4: SECTORAL STUDIES AND NATIONAL EXPERIENCES
The housing sector in the Netherlands
Prof Dr Leigh Hancher, University of Tilburg (NL)
Lunch Break
The maritime transport sector in Greece
Dr Lia Athanassiou, Assistant Professor of Commercial Law, Faculty of Law, University of Athens (GR) (invited)
The postal sector in Italy
N.N.
Evaluation of the seminar and End of the Seminar
Programme
The Seminar will commence on Monday morning 27 September at 9.30 hrs and will finish on Tuesday 28 September 2010 at 16.15 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: € 815
The participation fee includes documentation distributed during the seminar, two lunches, one reception 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 a hotel in Maastricht. We have made a block booking at the following hotel:
Hotel Beaumont**** (www.beaumont.nl) at a rate of € 102 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 and reception 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.
Registration
Kindly complete the registration form and submit it before Wednesday 8 September 2010. Please submit your registration as soon as possible. EIPA operates a system of first-come-firstserve.
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 on 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 two 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 (legal notice).
Open activities
eipa.eu
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