EStALI Seminar 2012 – Assessing the Compatibility of Aid Grants: Rescue & Restructuring in the Financial Sector – Research & Development – Regional Aid
During our EStALI events time restrictions often
prevent us from spending more time on the various topics. In 2011, we have therefore introduced a new format where less participants had more time to look into the specific aspects of a chosen subject.
In 2012 the focus was on:
Assessing the compatibility of aid grants in various fields
with the following questions having been raised:
• Which are the conditions and obligations the European Commission imposes when authorising aid grants in the fields of Research & Development & Innovation, Regional Development and Rescue & Restructuring?
• To which extent are the EU Courts willing and prepared to scrutinize such conditions and obligations? In other words: How promising is it for Member States and beneficiaries to challenge such Commission decisions?
• How will the European Commission change its policy when authorising new restructuring aid to banks? How will the Commission act when banks need public funds under the new 9% target imposed by the (EBA)?
• Why are "special credit institutions" getting more and more into the focus of EU State aid control? What are they still allowed to do?
• What will be the approach in the Commission's assessment of infrastructure funding? How will the Commission's “Horizon 2020” initiative impact on this?
For this two and a half-day course we again chose a venue away from the buzz of a city – yet easy to reach from Munich International Airport – to allow a maximum of 25 delegates to engage in an intensive, lively, and interactive debate.
Impressions from the EStALI Seminar 2011 on the Market Economy Investor Principle (MEIP)
"I
thoroughly enjoyed the seminar on MEIP. It was an excellent opportunity
to be able to discuss, in depth, a difficult subject, like MEIP. Having
the time to dissect case studies and apply relevant case law, with such a
knowledgeable group, ensured I experienced a very worthwhile event."
Sheena Brown, Scottish Government
"Exceptional level of expertise thanks to the invited speakers and a careful selection of the discussed topics."
Malgorzata Agnieszka Cyndecka, University of Bergen
Objectives
The aim of the seminar is to bring together State aid experts with diverse professional backgrounds to have them discuss a given subject in a form that combines depth of reasoning and debate with a level of interactivity that can only be achieved in a small group made up of participants with a homogeneous level of expertise and experience. Without time constraints this format gives ample room to thoroughly look into all of the diverse aspects of the chosen subject and do this in an interactive and dedicated manner. The individual presentations are followed by case studies and brainstorming sessions. Each of the active participants bring his or her background – as diverse as these were – the resulting mix vouching for a lively and enthusiastic debate.
Structure
The seminar had a two and a half day programme with the option to arrive one day earlier and to stay over the final weekend. The first two days (Thursday and Friday) featured a morning and an afternoon session, the last day (Saturday) a morning session only. During the sessions a lecturer introduced the topics by way of a
presentation. Thereafter, case studies and/or controversial
discussions followed with sufficient time for
Q&As whereas the lunch and coffee breaks allowed informal exchange and discussions.
Alongside the actual sessions social and leisure activities were planned on a voluntary basis.
