About this online course
This online course will focus on the new Project Appraisal requirements for EU co-financed investment projects and the new Economic Appraisal Vademecum of DG REGIO. It will clarify the link with the Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) Guide and the CBA requirements of the Connecting Europe Facility.
In 2021-2027, Major Projects will no longer be specifically defined. Nor will there be an EU approval mechanism for large investment projects. However, Member States are still obliged to select the most cost-effective projects.
The new Economic Appraisal VADEMECUM provided by the EC for the period 2021-2027 is provided as a supplement to the European Commission (DG REGIO) CBA Guide, which will remain in use. It highlights good practices in project appraisal, offering a guide to simplified CBA, and other appraisal techniques, such as cost-effectiveness tests and multi-criteria analyses.
In this course experts from the European Commission, the European Investment Bank, INEA (the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency), and the academic world will discuss:
- best practice in using CBA for project appraisal
- best practice from Major Projects
- the new DG REGIO requirements
- alternative project appraisal techniques; project quality standards, 2021-2027
- Operations of Strategic Importance (OSI)
- Using CBA under the Connecting Europe Facility
Please note: this course is part of a 2 stage basic and advanced course. The basic stage goes through the methods, concepts and calculations contained in the DG REGIO Cohesion Policy CBA Guide. If you only participate in stage 2 (advanced), we assume that you understand all the content of the basic level. However, if you feel you need to participate in this basic stage, you can also register for the 5-day basic and advanced course.
How will it help you?
The training will present principles, methods and criteria which can be used by public decision-makers. It will help them to better understand what information is required in order to assess the financial and economic viability of an investment project, and so make the best co-financing decisions in 2021–2027.
Key elements will be practised during workshops with the direct involvement of our EC, INEA and EIB experts. We will clarify when and how to use CBA in the 2021-2027 period.
Who will benefit most?
- Beneficiaries eligible for Structural Funds, the Cohesion Fund, CEF and IPA III, Managing authorities, intermediate bodies, auditors and consulting companies;
- Other actors involved in EU funding programmes and projects.

Julien Bollati
Practical information
Online Course
For this online course we make use of Zoom
Remote simultaneous interpretation
Remote simultaneous interpretation can be offered in Spanish, French and Italian on request. Contact the Programme Organiser for more information and conditions
Programme Organiser
Ms Nancy Vermeulen
Tel: +31 43 32 96 212
n.vermeulen@eipa.eu
Discounts
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.
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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The programme
08.45 | Opening of Platform |
09.00 | Review of Part I, Tour de Table |
09.00 | Opening of the course: introduction to the programme, method, objectives Tour de Table Marco Lopriore, Expert, EIPA |
09.10 | Policy context for Cohesion Policy 2021-2027 and Emergency Health Crisis measures
Marco Lopriore |
Part I – Project appraisal techniques, using CBA for ESI Funds, major projects: 2014-2020 and 2021–2027 | |
09.45 | Project Appraisal of Investment Projects under Cohesion Policy and the CEF
Robin Smail, Visiting Expert EIPA and Independent Consultant (IE/UK) (former National Expert EC; and former Senior Executive within Evaluation Division, Scottish Enterprise) |
10.30 | Virtual Coffee Break and meeting our Guest speaker |
11.00 | Discussion: Member State issues and measuring Economic Benefits |
11.20 | Using CBA in the decision-making process of Cohesion Policy, the new VADEMECUM for 2021-2027, and considerations for the programme authorities and beneficiaries
Witold Willak, Deputy Head of Unit, DDG.02, Coordination of Programmes, DG Regional and Urban Policy, European Commission |
12.45 | Q&A session |
13.00 | End of day |
Part II – Cost-Benefit Analysis: theoretical and practical issues; using alternative appraisal techniques | |
12.45 | Opening of Platform |
13.00 | Review of issues from days 1 & 2 Meeting our guest speaker |
13.05 | The new guiding principles 2021–2027, CBA method and issues
Davide Sartori, Economist, Energy Efficiency Department, European Investment Bank (CBA specialist and Lead Author of the 2014 European Commission Guide to Cost-Benefit Analysis of Investment Projects). |
14.00 | Discussion: choosing the best appraisal method |
14.20 | Coffee Break |
14.35 | Economic evaluation of public investment projects co-financed by EU Funds in 2021 – 2027: methodology for Cost-Benefit Analysis, key issues
Davide Sartori |
15.35 | Break-out rooms: financial and economic tests for EU and EIB co-funded projects |
15.55 | Short Break & meet our guest speaker |
16.05 | The economic evaluation of public investment projects and the use of CBA: Part 2
Ginés de Rus, Professor of Economics, University of Las Palmas. Research Director of Infrastructure and Transport, FEDEA. |
16.45 | The economic evaluation of public investment projects and the use of CBA: cases and issues Ginés de Rus |
17.20 | Q&A |
17.30 | End of the day |
Part III – Cost-Benefit Analysis for the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) | |
08.45 | Opening of Platform |
09.00 | Review of Day 3 and meeting our Guest speaker |
09.05 | Assessing projects under the CEF
Julien Bollati, Financial Engineering Manager, Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA), European Commission |
10.05 | Short break |
10.15 | Break-out rooms: Working with Transport projects (rail, waterways, road, air) and Alternative Fuels for Transport – CEF project assessment
Julien Bollati |
11.05 | Short break |
11.15 | Plenary feedback: Working with Transport projects (rail, waterways, road, air) and Alternative Fuels for Transport – CEF project assessment (contd).
Julien Bollati |
11.35 | Virtual Coffee Break |
Part IV – Practical Case Study: using CBA for EU co-financed investment projects | |
11.45 | Case study: Research and Development project – how to be efficient in the project assessment process
Davide Sartori |
12.45 | Discussion of technical issues and challenges, possible solutions |
13.00 | Evaluation of course |
13.15 | Close of course |
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