Policy design, impact assessment and evaluation

Ex Ante Impact Assessments in the Context of Better Regulation: Where Are we Heading?

Learn how to design, manage and communicate the results of high-quality ex ante impact assessments. Course without introductory module for those who are confident of all the basics.

About this course

  • How can an impact assessment (IA) system be developed or how can an IA system be optimised?
  • How can you assess the effectiveness and efficiency of policy proposals?
  • How can you ensure high-quality ex ante impact assessments?
  • How can you use an impact assessment as a supporting tool for decision-making?

This online course will answer all the above questions and specifically, it will enhance your ability to design, manage and communicate the results of ex ante IAs conducted by your organisation.

Learn how to ensure high-quality ex ante IAs. First, gain a good understanding of the needs and uses of ex ante impact assessments. Enhance your knowledge and skills in the main methods used in IAs (e.g. cost–benefit analysis). Gain insight into good practices through the lessons learned from implementation of the better regulation guidelines and toolbox. Importantly, learn about how to ensure the quality of your IAs through lessons learned from the EC as well as MSs. Finally, gain an overview of what happens after the IA is published and how IAs can influence the next steps in policymaking.

What you will learn in this course:

  • the policy cycle, and what better regulation means in theory and practice;
  • how to manage an ex ante impact assessment of a legal act, and how to consult and engage with stakeholders;
  • the analytical steps of an IA (defining the problem, setting objectives, developing policy options, measuring impacts, etc.);
  • the state-of-the-art methodologies and tools to assess the impacts;
  • how to adjust your expectations and choose the right shortcuts when selecting the best possible methodological approach (e.g. qualitative vs quantitative);
  • how the European Commission system ensures transparency and quality of the IA work (stakeholder consultation, Regulatory Scrutiny Board);
  • why IA has become a key tool for the development of EU policy and how to engage with the process;
  • the enablers and barriers for setting up an IA system: how an effective IA system can be developed in a Member State; how MSs assess policies and legal acts; the common pitfalls, the good practices.

Course methodology/highlights

The course will be led by experts who have decades of research and practical experience in IA in the EU context and beyond.
The course delivery will combine interactive presentations showcasing practical examples, quick polls to consolidate concepts and group exercises.

If you do not have any prior knowledge, it could help to follow the introductory module to gain the maximum benefit from this course. If you feel you need to participate in this module, you can register for the Course plus introductory module.

  • Evaluate the pros and cons of different IA methodologies and tools, and select the ones most relevant to your case.
  • Commission and manage meaningful IAs and ensure the proper dissemination of results.
  • Better integrate IA into the policy and programming cycle so it is used in practice.
  • Recognise and identify what makes a good quality IA.

After course support

You will be given the slides, as well as additional learning material and online resources to help you apply your new knowledge and skills to your work.

Public officials, civil servants, policy analysts who work in government or parliamentary institutions, in EU Member States or candidate countries, such as the following:

  • better regulation committees/programmes;
  • centres for research and analysis;
  • bureaucracy reduction agencies;
  • budget offices;
  • councils for regulatory impact assessments.

Online Course
For this online course we make use of Zoom

Programme Organiser
Ms Eveline Hermens
Tel: + 31 43 3296259
e.hermens@eipa.eu

Discounts
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.

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.

Confirmation
Confirmation of registration will be forwarded to participants on receipt of the completed online registration form.

Payment
Prior payment is a condition for participation.

Cancellation policy
For administrative reasons you will be charged € 50 for cancellations received within 7 days before the activity begins. There is no charge for qualified substitute participants.

EIPA reserves the right to cancel the activity up to 1 week before the starting date. In that case, registration fees received will be fully reimbursed.

 

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Our experts

Project leader

Nikolaos Sarris

Evaluations and Impact Assessments

Programme

09.00Welcome and introduction to the course
Presentation of lecturer and course objectives
Wim Marneffe, Impact Assessment Expert, Associate Professor at Hasselt University
Regulatory ex ante impact assessment (part I)
09.15Why do we need ex ante impact assessments? An overview
This session sets the ground for the remainder of the course. We will look at what works and where challenges remain. As a starting point we will discuss the need for impact assessments. We will look at the evolution from environmental and social IAs to integrated and, presently, regulatory impact assessments. We will then consider the shortcomings that IAs are trying to fix through discussing market and regulatory failures. Furthermore, we will discuss when policy intervention is justified and whether IAs really work by assessing evidence from the EU, US, Canada and the OECD. Finally, we will discuss the challenges that remain.
10.15Break
10:30Ex ante impact assessments in the European Union
In this session we will discuss why the impact assessment has become a key tool for the development of EU policy and how to engage in the process. We will examine the steps the European Commission follows when developing IAs by referencing the their better regulation guidelines and toolbox. As such, we will cover the necessary analytical steps of an IA such as defining the problem, setting objectives, developing policy options and measuring impacts.
We will then touch upon how the EC system ensures transparency through stakeholder consultations. We will discuss how the EC’s IAs are perceived by experts as well as how citizens are involved in the process. We will look at the lessons learned from the public through their feedback on specific IAs on the one hand, and on the procedure of IAs on the other.
12.00Break
12:15Group exercise
13.00End of the day
Regulatory ex ante impact assessment (part II)
09.00Methods used in impact assessment
In this session we will introduce you to the various methods used in the analysis of impacts. We will cover cost–benefit analysis (CBA), cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA), multi-criteria analysis (MCA), standard cost model (SCM), stated and revealed preference, and counterfactual analysis. We will highlight the role of sensitivity analysis and how to collect data for IAs.
10:00Group exercise
10:45Break
11:00Quality control – role and practice in the EU
This session will discuss the mechanisms for quality control of IAs. Here we will discuss the role of the Regulatory Scrutiny Board, the use of stocktaking exercises, reports from the Court of Auditors and lessons that can be learned by Member States from the EU.
12:00Break
12:15Monitoring and implementation
In this final session we will discuss the steps after the IA is published: implementation, enforcement, monitoring and ex post evaluations. We will highlight some good practice examples from Member States and future steps – lessons from the OECD.
13.00End of the course

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Ex Ante Impact Assessments in the Context of Better Regulation: Where Are we Heading?

24 May 2022 - 25 May 2022
Online
Register before: 17 May 2022

Simultaneous interpretation can be offered. Contact the programme organizer for more information and conditions.

 500 per attendee
 450 for EIPA members
Registration closed

Discount policy

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

For a limited number of training courses, EIPA offers an early bird discount.

For more information please contact us.

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Register before: 17 May 2022
Registration closed