EU Funds March 28 th 30 th 2011, Berlin, Germany. 6 th European Annual Symposium. Special Focus: Symposium Brochure ERDF ESF CF EAFRD EFF

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1 6 th European Annual Symposium EU Funds 2011 ERDF ESF CF EAFRD EFF Special Focus: Future Challenges of EU Funds A Closer Integration? Optimising the Management and Implementation of EU Funds Now for the Future! Financial Engineering Instruments Innovative Approaches to EU Funds Absorption? Financial Control Performance and Challenges. Symposium Brochure March 28 th 30 th 2011, Berlin, Germany In Cooperation with the European Commission

2 Welcome to the European Knowledge Network! The European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law is delighted to announce the 6th European Annual Symposium EU Funds This annual forum brings together around 500 EU funds experts from all over Europe and encourages an exchange of knowledge, experience and best practice between EU Institutions and Member States. With its unique character this European Symposium provides an insight in red-hot EU funds issues from a strategic as well as from a programme and project management perspective. Great event with hundreds of colleagues from all across Europe and all institutions involved. Auditor, Financial Audit Service, Ministry of Finance, The Netherlands 2

3 Background The middle of the programming period confronts Member States and EU funds authorities with a complex dilemma: the next funding period will not commence until the year 2014, however, first steps need to be taken and ideas need to be discussed and communicated for there to be a successful transition. The coming year 2011 is the right time to look at the achievements of the EU policies and EU funds to date, and discuss new efforts on the enhanced usage of the resources available in order to secure regional and social cohesion as well as long-term regional development. This European Annual Symposium EU Funds 2011 will thus address the key issues for an improved management and implementation of EU funds in the current period as well as the future challenges of EU funds and how to face those. The EU must start its preparations for the next programming period 2014 to 2020 and deal with its future challenges. What will this entail and in light of the strategy Europe 2020 what else is to come? The strategy promotes green economy, entrepreneurship, climate change and innovation in the EU financial instruments. Should there be a closer integration of EU funds to achieve these goals and make the entire funding process more efficient? What role will result oriented programme management play as an approach for making better use of EU money? The question How to optimise the management and implementation of EU Funds? is at the heart of current as well as future EU funding issues. The topics range from the use of EU funds for administrative capacity building, crisis dependent delays in the implementation of EU funded projects, the application of Article 55 and the various issues surrounding evaluation to the mobilisation of future actors and beneficiaries for the next period. What can we learn from this programming period up to date, what improvements can be made in this period still and what needs to be prepared now for achieving the best possible management and implementation of future EU funding? The economic crisis has had its effects on EU funding. Administrative capacities were cut and quite often co-financing of projects proved to be difficult due to a lack of loans from financial institutions. This brought financial engineering instruments and innovative approaches to EU Funds absorption more into play. ERDF, ESF, EAFRD and EFF now all have their financial mechanisms. The European Investment Bank is also keen to provide EIB loans for fostering EU objectives. In addition, there has been attempts to use a compilation of funds for those areas where not only one fund is applicable, as for example the use of the ESF for job creation and training in rural and fisheries areas. What other possibilities are there and how can financial engineering even improve the absorption of EU funding measures? This brings about the question of the financial control of projects financed by financial engineering instruments. But also eligibility rules are still a controversial subject what are the regulations and requirements, what is done in practice? In line with this, what is the European Court of Auditors approach to the audit of cohesion expenditures? What experiences have the national Court of Auditors had in conjunction with the EU Structural Funds? What are the specifics for the audit of EAFRD and EFF projects? High level of knowledge about the latest developments in structural funds. Ministry of Economy, France 3

4 Target Group This 6 th European Annual Symposium EU Funds 2011 is primarily targeting public officials such as Directors, Heads of Units, Programme Managers and Auditors dealing with the management, certification and audit of ERDF, ESF, CF as well as EAFRD and EFF. The following institutions are addressed: Ministries of Economy Finance Regional Development Labour and Social Affairs Transport Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Environment Education and Science Technology Culture Health Regional and Local Governments, Municipalities Regional Development Agencies Courts of Auditors National and Investment Banks, Private Banks Other Intermediate Bodies involved Consulting companies, Advisory and Audit Services Excellent investment in know-how. Solvita Gulbe, Head of Department, State Chancellery, Latvia Interesting and a lot of learning on a wide and complex material. National coordinator, Swedish ESF council 4

5 Methodology The 6 th European Annual Symposium EU Funds 2011 will provide participants with answers, discussions and perspectives to a load of new issues surrounding ERDF, ESF, CF, EAFRD and EFF. This must-attend event will feature essential expertise from the relevant European Commission Directorates, European Court of Auditors, Committee of the Regions, Managing Authorities, Certifying Authorities, Audit Authorities as well as European Networks. Strategic discussions mingle with issues concerning the implementing level in the Member States and thus provide a unique European forum for an exchange of knowledge, experience and best practice. Participants may choose from a number of parallel lectures and in doing so can design their individual timetable. After the opening panel the event breaks up into individual sessions, followed by workshops on day three. The European Annual Symposium is the NETWORKING EVENT of the year! Meet colleagues in your field from all over Europe and discuss European funding issues from various perspectives! Make new contacts in partner institutions which will help and inspire you in your daily work! Your Benefit Get ready for the next programming period participate in discussions on the future of the Structural Policy. Increase the absorption of the EU funds in your country through new approaches to management systems. Achieve the added value for EU funds and learn how to incorporate innovative policies and instruments in your region. Avoid the risk of non-eligible spending benefit from the lesson learned and recommendations stemming from the evaluations to date. Acquire confidence in your audit and financial control performance - improve your methods and tools. Learn how to make best use of financial engineering instruments and schemes. Bring innovation to the rural and fisheries sector by means of EU funding learn how to use the latest initiatives for a more effective development of your region. Use the forum to influence strategic debates with the European Commission on red-hot management issues. Develop networks and contacts with experts, members of European Institutions and partners of European importance at this all-encompassing EU funds event. Particular care and personal attention given to us with big hearts for our education. Valeri Iliev, Chief expert Ministry of Regional Development & Public Works, Bulgaria 5

6 EU Funds Networking Opportunities in Europe Be a Part of it! Experience an exceptional exchange with your European colleagues and other experts in the course of the exclusive evening reception. Participate in the new networking activities at the conference. Bring your business cards and let yourself be surprised! Use the conference as your platform: we present your publications. Send us your books, brochures, reports and articles for exhibition. NEW: The EU Funds Online Forum Join the Debate! Use the EU funds online forum already in the run-up to the European annual symposium for exchanging information. Debate controversial theses surrounding EU funding issues. Discover how your problems are solved in other Member States. Influence and inspire with your suggestions, wishes and criticism. Get in touch with the actors of the conference. Access the online forum at NEW: The European Knowledge Award will be awarded for the first time at the EU Funds Symposium The European Knowledge Award for the first time at the EU funds symposium This award will be given to THE public institution and THE private enterprise in Europe whose training of employees in the year 2010 stood out. Join in! The European Knowledge Award is endowed with 10,000 *. The award ceremony takes place 28 th March 2011 in the course of the EU funds symposium Further information and the conditions of participation can be accessed at * The prize consists of free guest passes for specialist events of the European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law. The prize cannot be exchanged for money or cash payment. Exchange of information and networking in a pleasant environment, dense programme, perfectly organised. Thomas Johan, ESF Co-ordinator, National Welfare Office, Germany 6

7 Programme Day 1 28 th March 2011 Registration and Hand out of Symposium Material (Please arrange final check-in preferably on Sunday, March 27 th ) Sunday, March 27 th 2011 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. & Monday, March 28 th 2011 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m Welcome note from the European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law and from the chair: Dr. Andrej Horvat, State Secretary, Cabinet of the Prime Minister, Government of the Republic of Slovenia The Future of EU Funding Policies in light of the Strategy Europe 2020 Preparations for the next programming period : what is to come? A closer integration of EU funds: just a nice to have or a necessity? Mainstreaming green economy, entrepreneurship, climate change and innovation in the EU financial instrument Increasing the efficiency of funding: result oriented programme management as an approach for better use of EU money? Andriana Sukova-Tosheva, Director, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission, Pedro Tarno, Head of Unit - Rural Developpment Programmes, DG Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission, Dr. Andrej Horvat, State Secretary, Cabinet of the Prime Minister, Government of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr. Michael Schneider, State Secretary for Federal and European Affairs, Envoy of the State of Saxony-Anhalt to the Federal Government, CoR Member Refreshment Break and Questions, Answers & Discussion are included in this Session Lunch How to Optimise EU Funds Management How to Mobilize Future Using EU Funds for A Actors and Beneficiaries A Administrative Capacity A A for the next Programming Building 1 Period How to integrate European priorities in the definition of local policies How to mobilise local councillors, citizen, SMEs and their representative councils Tools: communication and ongoing evaluation of the current programmes How to prepare your own administration organisation to manage EU funds as intermediate body? Proposed calendar for preparing the next generation of EU funds Guillaume Farny, Head of European Affairs Office, General Secretariat for Regional Affairs of Brittany, France Financial and physical implementation of ESF administrative capacity building programmes Challenges and issues to be resolved Implementation: some examples Actions taken by the Commission to support implementation Looking ahead: the need for a more conditional and focused approach? Thomas Bender, Head of Unit ESF Coordination, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission Crisis Dependent Delays in the Implementation of EU Funded Projects (Major Projects) Role of EU funds for diminishing the impact of the crisis Decline of financial sources for co-financing EU funded projects Sustainability of EU funded projects Crisis related complications in the project implementation: some examples Necessity for adjustment of the rules for managing EU funds Tomáš Novotný, Director, Regional Council Office of the Central Bohemia, Czech Republic Questions, Answers & Discussion Refreshment Break Advantages of Closer Integration of EU Funds a Rural Perspective History of interrelationship of ERDF, EAFRD, ESF and EFF Difficulties encountered and examples of remedies adopted Recent related developments Positive implications of Commissioners joint letter Practical implications of sensitive implementation of Commissioners joint proposal. Importance of addressing local stakeholders and targeted beneficiaries challenges Next steps Frank Gaskell, Senator, Euromontana Dennis Malone, Chief Executive Highlands & Islands (Scotland) Structural Funds Programmes Ltd, United Kingdom Jim Millard, Head of Highlands & Islands and Territorial Cooperation Programmes Scottish Government, United Kingdom 7

8 Key Challenges in the Implementation of EU Funds Making Greater Use of Revenue Generating Preventing Fraud in EU Evaluation of European B Flat Rates and Lump B Projects Application of B Funded Projects B Rural Development B Sums Article 55 Programmes Types of cost options Key requirements and differences Considerations for programme management and beneficiaries Experiences with the implementation Mathieu Lefebvre, Policy Officer, ESF Coordination Unit, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission Background to Article 55 Examination of regulation EC guidance Interpretation and application of guidance Practical example case study Issues identified and summary of key points Andrew Luff, European Structural Funds Programmes, East of England Development Agency, United Kingdom Protecting the EU financial interests Fraud-triangle and Joint Fraud Prevention Strategy Irregularities management system Fraud risk indicators Case studies Johan Khouw, Head of Unit for Fraud Prevention and Intelligence, European Anti-Fraud Office, European Commission First lessons from the Mid Term Evaluations and upcoming tasks CMEF corner stones and philosophy of evaluation The set of common indicators output, result and impact The challenge of measuring impacts of the second programme phase First experiences drawn from the Mid Term Evaluations methods and problems First experiences drawn from the delivery mechanisms of EAFRD in the member states Axis 4: Impact of Activities Undertaken during Implementation Supportive actions: training plan implementation, guidebook, establishing fisheries group networks and network activities First impacts of implementing Axis 4 on coastal areas Fisheries local action groups: impact on local communities, stakeholder, entrepreneurs Local governance vs. government: impacts for the Ministry of Agriculture and Managing Authorities The role of FARNET Next steps Bernd Schuh, Project Manager and EU Key Expert, EU Evaluation Network for Rural Development, Austria Eve Külmallik, Counsellor, Department of Fisheries Economics, Ministry of Agriculture, Estonia René Kusier, Head of Section, Danish Food Industry Agency, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Denmark Questions, Answers & Discussion

9 Evaluation Experiences Increasing the Quality of Strategic Monitoring Process C Ongoing Evaluation C C for the Implementation of the C C National Strategic Reference Framework Undertaken ongoing evaluation activities Benefits of evaluation plan and partnerships Criteria and methodology used in the evaluation Lessons learnt: Possibilities for further changes in the evaluation? Stanislaw Bienias, Head of National Evaluation Unit, Department of Structural Policy Coordination Ministry of Regional Development, Poland Winding-Up of Programming Period: Lessons Learned from ERDF Objective 2 Programmes Content: must have in terms of requirements versus nice to have with respect to making known regional success Financial data turned to information Planning: stages of progress, proper decision-making, keeping the European Commission informed, lay out and delivery Co-operation: expertise needed and interdependencies Lessons learned: tips & tricks View on winding up Paul Heuts, Consultant, ERAC - ERDF Managing Authority, The Netherlands Objectives and mechanisms of strategic monitoring process with reference to Governance & Evaluation Coordination with regard to strategic and administrative aspects Evaluation approach in the light of the principle of proportionality Summing up assessment Andreas Maier, Senior Scientific Officer, Austrian Conference on Spatial Planning Results of EAFRD Mid Term Evaluation: Investment Projects in the Rural Development Programmes Why a good share of competitiveness projects are realised by a few large companies only Absorption capacity vs. real needs of rural areas The need to pay out quickly vs. finding all potential beneficiaries A solution: an exclusion of large companies? Not realistic A solution: large projects for rural development also, as with the Cohesion fund, e.g. setting up an entire irrigation system? Dr. Miklós Maácz PhD, Head of Department, Ministry of Rural Development, Hungary EFF Policy after the Interim Evaluation: How Can Effectiveness Be Improved? Key policy considerations Relationship with MA, AA and CA Interim Evaluation of the EFF Lessons learnt Impact of the EFF Alan Dell, Deputy Head of Policy European Fisheries Fund, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), United Kingdom Questions, Answers & Discussion End of Symposium Day Evening Reception Very well organised with many pleasant and skilled experts. Tomas Palecek, Financial Manager of EU Funds, Ministry of Transport, Czech Republic

10 10 Programme Day 2 29 th March Financial Engineering Instruments Deployment of ERDF Funds via Financial Engineering in Rural D the JEREMIE Initiative D D Development D Structure of EIF & JEREMIE Holding funds in support of SMEs Latest developments of JEREMIE activities Some case studies to illustrate the implementation Outlook on the next programming period ( ) Hubert Cottogni, Head of Regional Business Development, European Investment Fund Development and Implementation of the London Green Fund Experiences of JESSICA London context and need for sustainable urban development Establishing and implementing the London Green Fund Challenges and lessons learned Can this be a sustainable model for future urban development? Kenroy Quellenec-Reid, Access to Finance and JESSICA Manager, London Development Agency, United Kingdom European Progress Microfinance Facility Policy issues and legal provisions Setting up a fund Scope of the financial mechanism Eligibility Progress made and best practice Dr. Nivelin Noev, Consistency of Rural Development, DG Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission TEMPME: Financial Mechanism for the Fisheries Sector Guaranties and interest rate subsidies on loans to SMEs Scope for the fisheries sector in this financial mechanism Co-financing operations by the EFF Progress made in countries such as Bulgaria and Romania after the Greek implementation Georges Spyrou, Principal Administrator, DG for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission Why a new facility? Objective Products State of play Lint to the ESF and outlook Andrea Maier, Policy Officer, Unit for Youth Employment, Entrepreneurship and Microfinance, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission Questions, Answers & Discussion Refreshment Break

11 Innovative Approaches to EU Funds Absorption Development of Innovative Achieving Synergies Using ESF actions to promote Local E Financial Engineering Tools E Structural Funds and EIB Loans E Employment Initiatives (2000- E 2006 & ) Advantages of financial engineering tools Forms of financial engineering in North-Rhine-Westphalia SMEs investment capital, regional seeds fund, micro loans, business angels and master craftsman foundation award Lessons learnt Outlook at the end of the programming period Dr. Claudia Schulte, Head of ERDF Secretariat, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy, Federal State Nord Rhine- Westphalia, Germany Necessity for partnerships between EU institutions, national authorities and beneficiaries EIB Loans for fostering the EU objectives Evidence from the field in the present Lessons learnt for the next programming period Roland Randefelt, Senior Engineer, Programme Lending Division, Projects Directorate, European Investment Bank, Luxembourg Mapping Local Employment Initiatives Scope and approaches in practice Delivery mechanisms Experiences and good practices Armelle Ledan, TAMAM sarl manager & AEIDL asbl consultant, France/Belgium Sustainable Development of Fisheries a Danish Perspective Danish context EFF and the fisheries sector Challenges Solutions Experience Innovative Investments Energy saving investments GUDP a national innovation scheme Jakob Møgelvang, Special Adviser, Coordination Division of EFF and EAFRD, Denmark Anne-Marie Knuth-Winterfeldt, Head of Section, Coordination Division for Rural Areas and Business Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Denmark Questions, Answers & Discussion Lunch A practical approach for better facing EU funds practice. Florian Schramm, Auditor, Bavarian Ministry for Environment and Health, Germany

12 Financial Control and Audit European Court of Auditors Audit of EAFRD Projects: F Approach to the Audit of F F Performance and Challenges F Cohesion Expenditures The Statement of Assurance (DAS) and the DAS audit methodology Auditing Cohesion expenditures: findings from the 2009 DAS Looking at the next steps: audit work planned for the 2010 & 2011 DAS Martin Weber, Head of Audit Unit ERDF, Transport and Energy, European Court of Auditors Audit Experiences of a National Court of Auditors in Conjunction with EU Structural Funds Role of national Court of Auditors in the audit of EU funds The Court of Auditors approach Assessment of the management- and control system Auditing individual cases Additional audit issues Michael Brauner, Head of Unit, Court of Auditors of the Federal State Brandenburg, Germany Legal framework for EAFRD audits and preparation of audits Performance and documentation Problems and limits found Conclusions Friedrich Schabauer, Team Leader Audit of European Agricultural Funds, Division EU Financial Control and Internal Auditing, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management, Austria Audit of EFF Projects Rules for audit and selection of EFF projects EFF controls, audits and Axis 4: particular items Example control reports Important facts for the audit of the EFF Nathan Paget, Deputy Head of Internal Audit, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), United Kingdom Questions, Answers & Discussion Refreshment Break

13 Financial Control State Aid Rules and Financial Engineering Instruments G G 1 2 Increased focus of EU Cohesion policy on financial engineering Implementing financial engineering initiatives in compliance with state aid rules Recent changes in the overall architecture of state aid control Double objective of the risk capital guidelines Experience so far: Actual implementation and effectiveness Upcoming challenges Carlos Tenreiro, Deputy Head of Unit, R & D, Innovation and Risk Capital, DG Competition, European Commission Eligibility Rules 2007: Regulations, Requirements and Practice Practical experiences on the issue of compliance Preventing trouble: impact of assessing eligibility a priori Raising trouble: room for interpretation versus quest for regulating and legal certainty Balancing role as a customer friendly adviser and judging reports Pieter Liebregts, Consultant, ERAC - ERDF Managing Authority, The Netherlands Questions, Answers & Discussion Hand Out of Certificates & End of Symposium Day 2 The best possibility to exchange experience, ideas & doubts. Barbara Slusarska, Head of Unit, Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development, Poland

14 14 Day 3 Workshop 30 th March Workshop Sessions Financial Control of Public Simplification of Revenue Sampling Methods and W Procurement Rules W Generation (Art. 55) W Calculating the Sampling W Results Importance of public procurement thresholds assessment by the European Court of Auditors Audit trails for evaluation of public procurement procedure Possible financial impacts in case of irregularities Christian Debach, Head of Audit Authority, EU Financial Control Unit, Ministry of Finance, Federal State Baden-Württemberg, Germany Brief background on revenue generation Revenue and income important differences Art. 55 (as amended) and treatment of revenue in Overview of approaches estimation, monitoring, accounting Experience and good practice in projects Jim Millard, Head of Highlands & Islands and Territorial Cooperation Programmes Scottish Government How to choose the right sampling methods Advantages and disadvantages Sampling performance Sampling assurance Evaluation Example: calculating the sampling results Patrick Wamper, Head of ERDF Audit Authority, Ministry of Finance of North Rhine - Westphalia, Germany Auditing EAFRD/EFF Projects Financial control differences between the funds Requirements of the audit function Organising controls and audits, checklists and their prerequisites Experiences from the financial period Best practice examples Patricia Bugnot, Director of Audit of Agricultural Expenditure,DG Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission Refreshment Break and Questions, Answers & Discussion are included in this session Lunch End of Workshop Day 3

15 Speakers Andriana Sukova-Tosheva Director, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission Pedro Tarno Head of Unit - Rural Developpment Programmes, DG Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission Dr. Andrej Horvat State Secretary, Cabinet of the Prime Minister, Government Slovenia Dr. Michael Schneider State Secretary for Federal and European Affairs, Envoy of the State of Saxony-Anhalt to the Federal Government, CoR Member Guillaume Farny Head of European Affairs Office, General Secretariat for Regional Affairs of Brittany, France Thomas Bender Head of Unit ESF Coordination, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission Tomáš Novotný Director, Regional Council Office of the Central Bohemia, Czech Republic Frank Gaskell Senator, Euromontana Dennis Malone Chief Executive, Highlands & Islands (Scotland) Structural Funds Programmes Ltd, United Kingdom Mathieu Lefebvre Policy Officer, ESF Coordination Unit, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission Andrew Luff European Structural Funds Programmes, East of England Development Agency, United Kingdom Johan Khouw Head of Unit for Fraud Prevention and Intelligence, European Anti-Fraud Office, European Commission Bernd Schuh Project Manager and EU Key Expert, EU Evaluation Network for Rural Development, Austria Eve Külmallik Counsellor, Department of Fisheries Economics, Ministry of Agriculture, Estonia 15

16 16 Speakers René Kusier Head of Section, Danish Food Industry Agency, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Denmark Stanislaw Bienias Head of National Evaluation Unit, Department of Structural Policy Coordination Ministry of Regional Development, Poland Paul Heuts Consultant, ERAC - ERDF Managing Authority, the Netherlands Andreas Maier Policy Officer, Unit for Youth Employment, Entrepreneurship and Microfinance, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission Dr. Miklós Maácz PhD Head of Department, Ministry of Rural Development, Hungary Alan Dell Deputy Head of Policy European Fisheries Fund, Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, United Kingdom Hubert Cottogni Head of Regional Business Development, European Investment Fund Kenroy Quellenec-Reid Access to Finance and JESSICA Manager, London Development Agency, United Kingdom Andrea Maier Member of Commission Staff, Unit for Youth Employment, Entrepreneurship, Micro-Finance, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, European Commission Dr. Nivelin Noev Consistency of Rural Development, DG Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission Georges Spyrou Principal Administrator, DG for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission Dr. Claudia Schulte Head of ERDF Secretariat, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy, Federal State Nord Rhine-Westphalia, Germany Roland Randefelt Senior Engineer, Programme Lending Division, Projects Directorate, European Investment Bank, Luxembourg Armelle Ledan TAMAM sarl manager & AEIDL asbl consultant, France/Belgium

17 Speakers Jakob Møgelvang Head of Coordination Division of EFF and EAFRD, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Denmark Anne-Marie Knuth-Winterfeldt Head of Section, Division for Rural Areas and Business Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Denmark Martin Weber Head of Audit Unit ERDF, Transport and Energy, European Court of Auditors Michael Brauner Head of Unit, Court of Auditors of the Federal State Brandenburg, Germany Friedrich Schabauer Team Leader Audit of European Agricultural Funds, Division EU Financial Control and Internal Auditing, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management, Austria Nathan Paget Deputy Head of Internal Audit, DEFRA, United Kingdom Carlos Tenreiro Deputy Head of Unit, R & D, Innovation and Risk Capital, DG Competition, European Commission Pieter Liebregts Consultant, ERAC - ERDF Managing Authority, the Netherlands Christian Debach Head of Audit Authority, EU Financial Control Unit, Ministry of Finance, Federal State Baden-Württemberg, Germany Jim Millard Head of Highlands & Islands and Territorial Cooperation Programmes Scottish Government, United Kingdom Patrick Wamper Head of ERDF Audit Authority, Ministry of Finance of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany Patricia Bugnot Director of Audit of Agricultural Expenditure,DG Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission 17

18 Organisational Matters Date of Events Monday, 28 th March 2011 Tuesday, 29 th March 2011 Wednesday, 30 th March 2011 Booking Number K-96 The event price covers: Documents Soft drinks and coffee/tea Lunch Evening reception at the end of day one Event Language The event languages will be English and German. Translation into English and German will be provided. Symposium material will be available in German or English. Event Location Estrel Hotel & Convention Center Berlin, Germany Sonnenallee Berlin Phone: +49 (0) Fax: +49 (0) Special offer for EU funds participants at the event hotel Make use of the special offer for accommodation in the ESTREL hotel the rates are exclusively for symposium participants. Please contact the hotel directly and refer to the European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law in order to benefit from a limited room contingent at a special price. Please book as soon as possible. Of course you can always look for an alternative hotel accommodation. Single room per night: 118 (plus 18 for breakfast) you save 30! Double room per night: 130 (plus 18 per person for breakfast) you save 39! Hotel Booking: Phone: +49 (0) reservierung@estrel.com booking Fax: +49 (0) booking@euroacad.eu Phone: +49 (0) For online booking please visit our website: The ESTREL Berlin is Europe s largest hotel complex for conventions and entertainment. It has five restaurants, two bars, a shipping pier, a beer garden and Berlin s most successful live show stars in concert. Event Price for Countries with EU Membership after 1995, Candidate and Potential Candidate Countries Symposium (March 28 th - 29 th 2011) Fast booking contingent until November 26 th 2010: 699,- Euro Early booking contingent from November 27 th 2010 until January 28 th 2011: 799,- Euro Normal price from January 29 th 2011: 899,- Euro All prices excl. German VAT (19%) Symposium and Workshop (March 28 th - 30 th 2011) Fast booking contingent until November 26 th 2010: 899,- Euro Early booking contingent from November 27 th 2010 until January 28 th 2011: 999,- Euro Normal price from January 29 th 2011: 1099,- Euro All prices excl. German VAT (19%) Workshop (March 30 th 2011) Fast booking contingent until November 26 th 2010: 399,- Euro Early booking contingent from November 27 th 2010 until January 28 th 2011: 449,- Euro Normal price from January 29 th 2011: 499,- Euro All prices excl. German VAT (19%) Event Price for Countries with EU Membership until end of 1995 and other Countries Symposium (March 28 th - 29 th 2011) Fast booking contingent until November 26 th 2010: 799,- Euro Early booking contingent from November 27 th 2010 until January 28 th 2011: 899,- Euro Normal price from January 29 th 2011: 999,- Euro All prices excl. German VAT (19%) Symposium and Workshop (March 28 th - 30 th 2011) Fast booking contingent until November 26 th 2010: 1079,- Euro Early booking contingent from November 27 th 2010 until January 28 th 2011: 1179,- Euro Normal price from January 29 th 2011: 1279,- Euro All prices excl. German VAT (19%) Workshop (March 30 th 2011) Fast booking contingent until November 26 th 2010: 449,- Euro Early booking contingent from November 27 th 2010 until January 28 th 2011: 499,- Euro Normal price from January 29 th 2011: 529,- Euro All prices excl. German VAT (19%) For group bookings from the same organisation, the second and every further delegate will be granted a reduction of 5% of the event price (net). 218

19 BOOKING EVENT Number K-96 (DM) DAte: March 28 th -30 th 2011 Herewith we register the following persons to the 6 th European Annual Symposium: EU Funds 2011 Note Please note, you can register as many delegates as you wish (except, the symposium is fully booked). Just copy this form for as many persons as you need. Delegate Ms. Mr. First name Last name Department Job position Your organisation Phone Fax Your organisation s address: Street Postcode / City Country Please mark the days, the sessions and the workshop in which you want to participate in order to be registered. Note that you can only visit one presentation per session Day 1 to day 3 (symposium & workshop) Day 1 to day 2 (symposium only) Day 3 (workshop only) A B C D E F G WS European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law Hausvogteiplatz Berlin / Germany Phone: +49 (0) Fax: +49 (0) info@euroacad.eu Would you like your event documents in English German I would like to join the evening reception at the end of day 1 You can find the session numbers in the upper left corner of each presentation in the agenda. (see example). Please choose one presentation per session and tick it. When attending workshop day 3, please mark the presentation in session WS as well. Invoice organisation Street Postcode / City Country To the attention of Phone Fax In case of registration of more than one delegate - do you prefer: single invoice? collective invoice? With my signature I confirm my registration and accept the General Terms and Conditions as legally binding. I herewith agree to receive further information from the European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law Place, Date Authorised Signature / Stamp 19 2

20 20 Terms & Conditions for Training Seminars & Courses 1. Area of Application The following terms and conditions settle the contractual relationship between conference participants and the European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law Brauner Klingenberg GmbH [referred to as European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law in the following]. Differing terms and conditions, as well as, other settlements and/or regulations have no validity. 2. Registration / Confirmation of Application A registration can be made via internet, mail, fax, or . The registration is considered granted and legally binding if not rejected by the European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law in writing within seven (7) days after receipt of registration. The registration will be supplemented by a booking confirmation via . Partial bookings are only valid for seminars designed in modules. 3. Service The course fee covers the fee per participant and course in net, subject to current German VAT. It includes training course documents as per course description, a lunch meal/snack and refreshments during breaks, as well as, a participation certificate. The European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law has the right to change speakers/instructors and to modify the course program if and where necessary while maintaining the overall nature of the course. All registered participants will be notified in case of a course cancellation due to force majeure, due to speakers preventions, due to troubles at the chosen location or due to a low registration rate. Course cancellation notification due to a low registration rate is issued no later than two (2) weeks before the course date. Course fees are reimbursed in the cases listed above; however, reimbursement for travel expenses or work absenteeism is only granted in cases of intention or gross negligence by the European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law. 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Cancellation by the participant will be subject to cancellation charges as follows: 30 days or more prior to commencement of the course: service charge of 80,00 net, subject to current German VAT, payable immediately, course fee will be reimbursed, two (2) weeks to 30 days prior to commencement of the course: 50% of course fee net, subject to current German VAT, payable immediately, non-attendance or cancellation less than two (2) weeks prior to commencement of the course: 100% of course fee net, subject to current Germany VAT, payable immediately The European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law gladly accepts without additional costs a substitute participant nominated in case of a cancellation if the substitute participant is registered at least three (3) days prior to the commencement of the course. Neither cancellation of a specific module/part of the course or substitution per module/per day is possible. 6. Copyright Seminar/course documents are protected by property rights and may not be duplicated, processed, amended, circulated or published in any other way without the written consent of the European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law. The European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law reserves all rights. 7. Liability All seminars and courses are prepared and presented by qualified speakers and instructors. The European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law accepts no liability for the up-to-dateness, correctness and completeness of the seminar documentation, as well as, presentation of the seminar. 8. Applicable Law, Place of Jurisdiction, Place of Performance All cases shall be governed and construed in accordance with German law to the exclusion of the UN Sales Convention. As far as legally admissible, place of performance and place of exclusive jurisdiction shall be Berlin, Germany. 9. Data Protection The European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law protects personal data by taking appropriate protection measures. For the purpose of optimization of the product and service portfolio and according to the regulations of the data privacy laws, it stores and processes person-specific data on the training participants. Hence, all European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law website hits are registered. All personal data will, in accordance with the law, be used for documentation requests, placed orders or other enquiries in order to send information out by post. The European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law will, in accordance with the law, inform participants by about special offers that resemble previously booked seminars. If and where personal data needs to be transferred to countries lacking appropriate data protection schemes, the European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law shall grant alternative adequate protection. Furthermore, the European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law will use personal data as far as participants have granted respective permission. When collecting personal data, the European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law will always ask for permission regarding information about offers. The participant may, at any time, express their objection to data collection for the purpose of advertisement or address via or fax. Any data provided to the European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law will be processed for reservations and bookings, as well as, for information about other seminars. Names and company names will be published in a participants list and forwarded to the mailing company.