Target Group
Officials from most Ministries and agencies who are responsible for following policy dossiers at the EU level.
Description
This two-day training seminar offers participants an intensive and practical introduction to integrated (social, environmental and economic) Impact Assessment (IA) in the context of the European Union institutions. This key tool for Smart Regulation is becoming increasingly central to the policy-making and legislative processes of the European Union.
Method
A combination of presentations, case studies and group exercises, as well as experience sharing between participants. The seminar is developed with a strong emphasis on practical and hands-on information on how to read and develop an impact analysis. The exercises are systematically tailored on real cases and impact assessments, which will allow the participants to confront their own exercise results with the real impact assessments carried out by the European Commission and/or a member state.
Based on case-study materials participants conduct a Cost-Benefit Analysis on different policy options. It is highly recommendable participants bring their own laptop, since the analysis is carried out using Excel worksheets and require the use of a laptop.
Objectives
By the end of the seminar, participants will understand:
• why impact assessment has become an ever more important part of the policy-making and legislative processes in the European Union;
• the key analytical steps followed by the European Commission in preparing an impact assessment;
• the logic and approach of the main quantitative and qualitative techniques and tools for carrying out an impact assessment;
• the opportunities for stakeholder and Member State input into the preparation of the European Commission impact assessment;
• the responsibilities and commitments made by the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament to work with European Commission impact assessments, and to elaborate their own impact assessments on substantive amendments;
• the possibilities of national authorities to work with and respond to European impact assessments.
The emphasis of the seminar is very much directed towards offering participants a practical understanding of this increasingly important policy-development tool.
Monday 1 October 2012
Welcome and introductions
Presentation of the lecturers and the seminar objectives
Theo Jans, Senior Lecturer, EIPA Maastricht
Better Regulation and Impact Assessments in comparative perspective
A brief presentation of the European Better and Smart Regulation strategy and the role of Impact Assessments in these efforts to improve the quality of the regulatory environment.
Different national experiences with various types of Impact Assessments are presented and analysed. National cases in point are the United Kingdom, Denmark, France, Poland, etc.
The analytical steps in a European Commission (EC) Impact Assessment
Presentation of the key features of the EC Impact Assessments and a thorough discussion of the key analytical steps in Impact Assessments: problem definition, objectives, policy options, impact analysis, selection and ranking, monitoring and evaluation.
Introduction to the exercises and case studies
The exercises are modelled on two different EC Impact Assessments: one primarily contains qualitative analysis; the other provides elaborate quantitative analysis and monetisation. Both cases are presented by the lecturers and the participants are asked to study a number of documents in preparation of the exercises.
Lunch break
Group exercise 1 – Analytical steps of an EC IA: problem definition, objectives, policy options
The participants are divided into separate groups and, based on a number of documents and data, they are asked to develop the first steps of an IA. They will need to describe a problem definition, objectives and at least three policy options.
While conducting the group work, participants will be guided and assisted by the lecturer who will monitor the work progress.
Debriefing group exercise 1 – Presentation and discussion of problem definition, objectives and policy options
The “rapporteur” of each group presents their group’s work and the first steps of the Impact Assessments. The different results are discussed and commented on by the participants and by the lecturer. Following the discussion of the different group contributions, the actual IAs as drafted by the EC will be presented by the lecturer.
The organisational and procedural features of the EC Impact Assessment system
The procedures, documents, actors, deadlines and quality control involved in EC Impact Assessments are discussed. The presentation concentrates on a number of practical features of the process (e.g. inter-service steering groups, Impact Assessment board, translation, types of IA documents, etc.), which should help national officials in identifying and understanding the key features of an IA.
Tuesday 2 October 2012
Defining and reducing administrative burdens: the standard cost model
A discussion of compliance and administrative costs in EC legislative proposals and implementing measures. The Standard Cost Model is introduced with a succinct analysis of the tool’s strengths and weaknesses.
Group exercise 2 and debriefing – Determining administrative costs in legislation
The participants receive a piece of legislation and are asked to calculate the administrative costs involved. Following their calculations, they are asked to develop an administrative burden reduction proposal.
The group work is followed by a plenary debriefing during which the real calculations and reductions are unveiled.
Quantitative tools and techniques for Impact Assessments
An overview of the main tools to conduct quantitative analysis. The logic and appropriateness of the different tools are discussed and the participants receive guidance on which techniques can best be used for certain purposes.
Group exercise 3 – Running a Cost-Benefit Analysis on policy options
Based on case study materials, participants conduct a Cost-Benefit Analysis on different policy options. The exercise is carried out using Excel worksheets and requires the use of a laptop. The exercise will be guided and assisted by the lecturers.
Lunch break
Group exercise 4 – Analytical steps of an EC IA: Impact analysis and options comparison
The participants are asked to carry out the impact analysis for their IA, using both qualitative as well as quantitative data to assess the different policy options. The policy options must be discussed as sets of different impacts and the discussion of the different impacts should lead to a ranking of policy options substantiated by the prior impact analysis.
Debriefing group exercise 4 – Impact analysis and options comparison
Each group reports on its findings and options ranking. The result are discussed in plenary and followed by a presentation of the real IAs and their options, impacts and eventual policy choices.
The national and inter-institutional use of Impact Assessments
The presentation provides information on how Member States, the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers have dealt with the IAs produced by the EC. Reference is made to Council IA guide, the Inter-Institutional Agreement on Better Lawmaking and the “impact” of IAs on EU legislative processes. Suggestions are made on how individual Member States can maximise their involvement and “impact” on these processes.
End of the seminar
Programme
The seminar will commence the first day at 09.00 and will finish the second day at 17.00.
Seminar venue
The seminar will take place in the Green Conference Room at the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA), O.L. Vrouweplein 22, 6211 HE Maastricht, the Netherlands.
Tel.: +31 43 32 96 222, Fax: +31 43 32 96 296.
Working language
The seminar will be conducted in English.
Fee
The participation fee is € 825 and includes documentation, 2 lunches, 1 buffet 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. For details, please click here.
Hotel
The European Institute of Public Administration will be pleased to make hotel reservations for you. For all seminars we made a block booking at the Hotel Beaumont (www.beaumont.nl), at the rate of € 99,99 p.p.p.n. (incl. breakfast and tourist tax). If you wish to make use of this possibility, please indicate the date 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
Lunches and buffet will be served at the Institute’s restaurant. Should you require a special menu (e.g. vegetarian, diabetic, gluten free), please inform the Programme Organiser so this can be arranged.
Registration
Kindly complete the online registration form before 18 September 2012.
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 closing date of registration 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.
eipa.eu
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