Seminar Managing the EU Policy Cycle: A Comprehensive One-Week Course on EU Decision-Making in Practice Maastricht (NL), 12-16 January 2015 European Institute of Public Administration Institut européen d’administration publique Introduction Target group Regional, national and EU officials, as well as interested stakeholders. This one-week course on decision-making was developed with the needs of civil servants in mind. However, it is equally suitable for other professional groups dealing with EU public affairs. at the entire policy cycle, providing a comprehensive overview with regard to information and documentation management at the EU level, and from among myriad sources of information and registers of primary documents on EU policy- and decision-making. Description Participants are given a comprehensive overview of European decision-making, following the legislative policy cycle, from initiation through decision-making, to implementation. The first stage examines how the Commission elaborates a proposal, with particular attention on impact assessment. This is followed by a review of internal procedures in the Council and Parliament, as well as interinstitutional negotiations. Learning methodology The course is based on presentations, case studies, exercises, simulation exercises and guided discussions. It covers the entire policy cycle in one comprehensive course, not only encompassing the different stages (policy initiation, legislative decision-making, delegated and implementing acts), but also offering participants more in-depth knowledge about EU procedures with an insight into the kinds of skills and challenges involved in European negotiations. Participants will learn to manage negotiations in a complex environment and will see the impact of bargaining and compromise-building on the policy process. To round off, the seminar will look at the policy implementation stage at the EU level. It will examine how the Commission may be empowered by the EU legislator to adopt measures at EU level, whether of a ‘quasi-legislative’ nature (delegated acts) or of a more technical nature where uniformity is required (implementing acts). The final session looks back Objectives This comprehensive course will give participants a thorough and well-rounded view of the EU machinery, its institutions and decision-making procedures. By the end of the seminar, participants will be able to manage a European dossier through all the relevant stages of the EU policy process, from inception to implementation, as well as developing the personal skills to enable them to perform better when dealing with European affairs. Programme The objective of this course is to provide participants with a thorough understanding of how decisions are taken in the European Union (EU). It offers an insight into the challenges posed in the different phases of the EU policy cycle – initiation, decision-making, implementation and evaluation – through a combination of presentations, practical exercises, simulations and guided discussions. MONDAY 12 JANUARY 2015 The EU Policy Cycle The first session introduces the different stages of the EU policy cycle against the background of the evolution of the European Union, from the Treaty of Rome to the Treaty of Lisbon. The remaining sessions examine in detail the first stage of the cycle – the initiation of policies. They cover programming and preparatory work in the Commission, as well as internal and external consultation procedures. The final session is dedicated to impact assessment, combining a review of the principles of impact assessment with a practical case study. TUESDAY 13 JANUARY 2015 Decision-Making and Negotiations in the Council and in the European Parliament The second and third day deal with the heart of EU decision-making: how the general rules applicable in the Union – now termed ‘legislative acts’ – are adopted on the basis of the objectives laid down in the treaties, and how the legislators negotiate to adopt the acts. Day two first makes a link to the policy formulation stage treated on day one by examining the decision-making procedures and practices in the European Commission. It then proceeds by looking into the procedures and working methods in the European Parliament and in the Council. The last session of the day brings the three institutions together in the EU policy cycle, first with an overview of legislative procedures and then a detailed presentation of the ordinary legislative procedure. 09.00 Decision-making procedures in the European Commission Theo Jans 08.50 Registration of participants 10.30 Coffee break 09.00 Welcome and introduction to the course Sabina Lange, Lecturer, Project Leader, EIPA 11.00 Decision-making procedures in the European Parliament and in the Council Edward Best, Head of Unit, EIPA Sabina Lange 09.30 EU policy cycle: institutional and legislative framework Theo Jans, Associate Professor, EIPA 10.30 Coffee break 11.00 Policy preparation in the European Commission 12.30Lunch 14.00 The analytical steps of an impact assessment 15.15 Coffee break 15.45 Impact assessment: defining objectives and policy options 17.15 End of the first day 17.30Reception problems, 12.30Lunch 14.00 Decision-making procedures in the European Parliament and in the Council (cont.) 15.15 Coffee break 15.45 Legislative procedures: ordinary legislative procedure Edward Best 17.15 End of the second day 17.30 Guided walking tour of the city of Maastricht WEDNESDAY 14 JANUARY 2015 Legislative Decision-Making and Inter-Institutional Negotiations Day three begins with examples of recent codecision cases to illustrate the ways in which the European Parliament and the Council can reach agreement at different stages. The participants then start working on a simulation exercise, They will first, working in parallel groups, simulate decision-making in the Council (at Coreper level) and in the Committee in the European Parliament. After reaching an agreement on their respective mandates the delegations will negotiate between the Council and the European Programme Parliament in an informal trilogue. The debriefing focuses on issues, process and actors in negotiations in codecision. It concludes with a discussion on challenges posed for individual negotiators. 09.00 Ordinary legislative procedure: case studies Edward Best and Sabina Lange 10.00 Decision-making in practice: introduction to the simulation game 10.30 11.00 Provisions for delegated and implementing acts in the legislative acts: workshop and debriefing 12.30Lunch 14.0 The new world of delegated acts 15.00 Coffee break 15.15 Implementing acts: procedures and practice Coffee break 16.45 Discussion: cases and issues 10.45 Decision-making in practice: preparation for the simulation game 17.15 End of the fourth day 11.45 Decision-making in practice: simulation exercise FRIDAY 16 JANUARY 2015 12.45Lunch 14.00 Decision-making in practice: simulation exercise (cont.) 15.15 Coffee break 15.30 Debriefing of the simulation exercise and general discussion on co-decision in practice and next steps 17.15 End of the third day 20.00 Dinner at a restaurant in town Information Sources The final day looks at EU documentation sources, in order to assist the participants in their management of relevant EU information in the future. By pointing to information sources for each of the stages, it reflects back on the entire policy-making cycle and opens up questions for a concluding panel discussion on developments in EU policy processes. 09.00 10.30 EU information sources Cosimo Monda, Senior Lecturer; Head of Information, Documentation, Publications and Marketing Services, EIPA THURSDAY 15 JANUARY 2015 10.45 EU information sources (cont.) Implementation at EU Level The fourth day is devoted to the last stage of the EU policy cycle: how the European Commission adopts binding acts to implement, or to adapt, EU legislative acts. It recalls the arrangements by which the Commission has consulted “comitology” committees composed of representatives of the Member States, and explains the post-Lisbon system which has split these arrangements into two distinct categories of Delegated and Implementing Acts (Art. 290-291 TFEU). The legal differences between the two categories are presented, as well as the different institutional procedures by which they are adopted. Participants are invited to look at particular cases in order to identify these differences. The seminar will update participants on how delegated and implementing acts work in practice and will provide a forum for discussion of the latest developments. 12:00 Conclusions and summing up of the course Sabina Lange 12.30 Evaluation and end of the seminar 09.00 Introduction: from “comitology” to delegated and implementing Acts Sabina Lange 10.30 Coffee break Coffee break General Information Programme The programme will commence on Monday 12 January at 09.00 and will finish on Friday 16 January at 12.30. Registration of participants on Monday 12 January starts at 8.50. Meals Lunches, reception and dinner will be served at a restaurant in town. Should you require a special menu (e.g. vegetarian, diabetic), please inform the Programme Organiser so that this can be arranged. Seminar venue The seminar will take place at the European Institute of Public Administration, O.L. Vrouweplein 22, NL-6211 HE Maastricht, tel.: +31 43 32 96 222, fax: +31 43 32 96 296. Registration Kindly complete the registration form and return it before 17 December 2014 to Ms Esther Haenen, Programme Organiser, European Institute of Public Administration, P.O. Box 1229, NL-6201 BE Maastricht, Tel.: +31 43 32 96 246; fax: +31 43 32 96 296; e-mail: [email protected]. Language The seminar will be conducted in English. Fee The participation fee is €1600 and includes documentation, refreshments, four lunches, one reception, one dinner and a guided walking tour. Accommodation and travel costs are at the expense of the participants or their administration. EIPA offers its members a reduction of 10% off the registration fee. This reduction is available to all civil servants working for one of EIPA’s member countries (i.e. AT, BE, BG, CY, CZ, DK, EE, FI, FR, DE, GR, HU, IE, IT, LT, LU, MT, NL, PL, PT, ES, SE, UK) and civil servants working for an EU institution, body or agency. Officials of the EU institutions, bodies or agencies should enquire about applicable arrangements on the following website: http://lot6.eipa.eu. If you are eligible for a discount, please tick the box in the registration form. Please note that reductions cannot be accumulated. For more information, please visit EIPA’s website: http://seminars.eipa.eu (FAQ - special discounts). Hotel The European Institute of Public Administration has special price arrangements with a number of hotels. All hotels are within 10 minutes walking distance from EIPA. Should you wish to make use of this possibility, please book directly via the links below. Payment is to be made directly and personally to the hotel on checking out. At the time of booking, please mention in the requested field, the EIPA project number 1512401. • Bastion Hotel www.bastionhotels.nl/en/eipa.html • Townhouse Hotel www.townhousehotels.nl/eipa • Hotel Derlon www.derlon.com/business/eipa-goes-derlon • Designhotel Maastricht - Hampshire Eden www.hampshire-hotels.com/eipa You can also submit the online registration form which can be found at http://seminars.eipa.eu. Your name and address will be part of EIPA’s database for our mailing purpose only. If you do not want to be included in our mailing database, please tick the box on the registration form. Confirmation Confirmation of registration will be forwarded to participants on receipt of the completed registration form. Payment Prior payment is a condition for participation. Please indicate the method of payment on the registration form. In any case, the participant or his/her administration will receive an invoice for the payment of the registration fee. For cancellations received after the closing date of registration we will have to charge an administration fee of €150 unless a replacement participant is found. Cancellation policy EIPA reserves the right to cancel the seminar up to two weeks before the starting date. EIPA accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred (travel, hotel, etc.). For EIPA’s cancellation policy, please visit our website http://seminars.eipa.eu (FAQ - legal notice). Registration Form Managing the EU Policy Cycle: A Comprehensive One-Week Course on EU Decision-Making in Practice Maastricht (NL), 12-16 January 2015 Surname: ............................................................................................................. Title: .................................................................................... M / F First name: ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Organisation: ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Department: ....................................................................................................... Current position: ......................................................................... Work address: ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Postal code & Town: ........................................................................................ Country: .......................................................................................... Telephone number: ......................................................................................... Fax number: .................................................................................. E-mail address: ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Invoice information Organisation: ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Department: ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Address: ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ Postal code & Town: ......................................................................................... Country: .......................................................................................... VAT number: ....................................................................................................... Your reference number: ............................................................ E-mail address: ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Payment - 1512401 The fee includes participation in the seminar, documentation, four lunches, one reception, one dinner, beverages and a guided walking tour €1600 Discount of 10% (Please check first the conditions at http://seminars.eipa.eu (FAQ - special discounts)) Method of payment Bank transfer Credit card American Express card Eurocard/Mastercard Visa card Card number: .......................................................................... Expiry date: ................. /.................. Name card holder: .............................................................................................................................................. (in case this differs from above) Address card holder: .......................................................................................................................................... (in case this differs from above) Postal code: ............................................................................. Country: ......................................................... (in case this differs from above) Card Validation Code: .............................................................................................................. (the last three digits on the back of your card) Exempt from VAT by virtue of Article 11, Para. 1 (o), Sub-para. 2 of the Dutch Law on VAT of 1968 Meals Vegetarian Fish allowed Other dietary requirement: ...................................................................................... As the number of places is limited, please return the completed registration form before 17 December 2014 to: Ms Esther Haenen, European Institute of Public Administration, P.O. Box 1229, NL-6201 BE Maastricht, Tel.: +31 43 32 96 246, fax: +31 43 32 96 296, e-mail: [email protected] Your name and address will be part of EIPA’s database for our mailing purpose only. Please tick if you do not want to be included in our mailing database.