Financial Instruments: Ensuring Compliance with State Aid Rules

State aid control is the cornerstone of the proper functioning of the internal market. State aid cases primarily concern the recipient states. Secondly, they concern companies that gain a selective advantage affecting or likely to affect trade between Member States and market competition.

The first difficult aspect lies with determining whether or not an action taken or programme constitutes aid and then assessing whether the given aid is to be considered compatible with the common market. Despite the general prohibition of State aid, the legislation specifies many exemptions for aid that enhances the efficiency of the single market and boosts the European economy. The Commission’s implementation of the State aid policy has progressively resulted in a strengthening of the Commission’s control over the most complex forms of aid and an increased liability of the Member States in granting forms of aid.

This course will cover the following crucial topics, as the notion of State aid, state aid procedures and the compatibility of State aid.

Also, the course will focus on how State aid rules have to be applied to financial instruments. Member States shall ensure that State aid rules are respected when granting aid through financial instruments. As a result, the seminar will address the implementation of financial instruments in the ESIF from a state aid law perspective and rules on financial Instruments in the GBER.

What will you learn:

Participants will learn about the basic principles of EU state aid policy and its application to financial instruments.

Course methodology/highlights:

The sessions will be delivered by experts with a presentation on key topics. These will be followed by periods of Q & A allowing for the exchange of ideas, and discussions where participants will have the opportunity to share professional experiences.

Participants will have the opportunity to test their knowledge on enforcement of EU State aid rules through workshops and interactive presentations.

The course will update you on the notion of state aid and will provide you with a practical approach of the state aid regulations applicable to financial instruments.

EU and national civil servants. Lawyers and in-house counsel dealing with competition law cases.

Course venue
European Investment Bank (EIB)
98-100, boulevard Konrad Adenauer
L-2950 Luxembourg

Programme Organiser
Ms Stéphanie Gemnig Comodi
Tel: +352 426 230 301
s.gemnig@eipa.eu

Fee
The fee includes documentation and refreshments. Lunches, a reception or dinner are included if mentioned in the programme. Accommodation and travel costs are at the expense of the participants or their administration.

EIPA member fee

EIPA offers a discount to all civil servants working for one of EIPA’s supporting countries, and civil servants working for an EU institution, body or agency.

Who are the supporting countries?
Civil servants coming from the following EIPA supporting countries are entitled to get the reduced fee: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden.

For all other participants, the regular fee applies.

Early bird discount

The early bird discount is not cumulative with other discounts or promo codes, except for the EIPA member fee.

Meals
Special dietary requirements (e.g. vegetarian, diabetic) can be indicated once you receive the confirmation of the seminar.