Thematic scope

The training presents the general principles of State aid and regulations of particular relevance for ESI Funds management:

• Concept of State Aid and Notification in Practice: State aid, assessment of State aid compatibility and notification procedure in a case involving EU funding
• Relation between State Aid and ESI Funds: the obligations of Managing Authorities with respect to State aid and options for securing the compatibility with State aid in Operational Programmes and EU funded projects
• The new regulations essential for ESI Funds:  General Block Exemption Regulation, de minimis rules and Regional Aid Guidelines
• The Funding Gap Method

A second focus is laid on the experiences in the practical application of the State aid rules to the various funding types:

• State Aid & Infrastructure
• State Aid & R&D&I
• State Aid & European Territorial Cooperation

The programme will be completed by a problem solving & discussion session, giving the participants the opportunity to present their own problems and cases and discuss them with our experts and other participants.

Methodology

The Lexxion Training Method combines the three stages of learning to ensure that the participants obtain the best possible understanding of EU rules:

1)            Identification of the main points or principles;

2)            Appreciation of the complexities and limitation of the principles, and

3)            Application of the principles.

The participants will be actively involved in the training and will analyse several State aid rules on the basis of real cases. The training’s sessions will combine presentations with case studies and practical exercises in working groups. Moreover, each session will give the participants enough opportunities to present their own problematic issues and discuss them with the speakers and participants from other Member States. For this end, cases and questions can be sent to us beforehand.

You are invited to send your questions to us beforehand to make sure that the problems you are dealing with will be addressed during this training.

Your benefit

• Meet the experts in State aid law and specialists in EU funding from the European Commission and Member States.
• Discuss how to identify State aid in your programmes and projects.
• Learn when funding constitutes State aid and what the applicable procedures are.
• Become acquainted with the current State aid implications for EU funded infrastructure projects resulting from the Leipzig-Halle judgement.

Focus group
Experts on ERDF, ESF, CF, EARDF and EFF implementing the running Operational Programme and working on the programmes for the programming period 2014-20 in:

• Managing Authorities
• Intermediate Bodies
• Certifying Authorities
• Audit Authorities

EU funds experts responsible for the assessment of the funding scheme containing State aid from public authorities such as:

• National ministries implementing and managing Structural Funds
• Regional and local governments
• City councils
• National and Regional Development Agencies
• Research institutes

Beneficiaries of Structural Funds, in particular from sectors such as:

• Infrastructure
• Transport
• Research & Development
• Urban Development
• Environment
• Training
• Services of General Economic Interest

 State aid experts from:

• State Aid Monitoring Offices
• Ministries of Regional Development, Economy, Infrastructure, Transport, Environment, Agriculture, Research, Finance and Social Services
• Regional governments, communities and city councils acting as granting authorities

 Lawyers and consultants specialised in public affairs