Kolmepäevane EIPA seminar Maastrichtis: Committees and Comitology in the Policy Process of the European Community

The European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) is pleased to inform you that the team responsible for the activities concerning committees and “comitology” plans to organise several activities in this area in 2005.

The first open activity on “Committees and Comitology in the Policy Process of the European Community” will be held in Maastricht on 14-16 March 2005. This intensive three-day seminar is designed to help civil servants from the Member States, the candidate countries and the EU institutions to gain a better understanding of the role these committees play in the policy process, both from a theoretical and a practical point of view. The prime objective of this seminar is thus to provide its participants with the insight to be able to best influence policy decisions taken within the myriad of EU committees.

Objectives

The training offered mainly aims to provide an overview of the decision-making process in the framework of “comitology”, i.e. the delegation of implementing competences from the Council to the Commission (Article 202, third indent of the EC Treaty).

The role of advisory committees and expert groups of the Commission as well as of Council working groups will be discussed in order to present a full picture of the work of these bodies. The seminar will also take a detailed look at the various current procedures governing comitology in order to provide participants with a better understanding of the workings of this process. In particular, attention will be paid to the role of the Commission and of representatives of the Member States in the adoption of implementing measures aimed at adapting the legislation already in force. This includes a close examination of the different phases of consultation with expert groups, the preparation of legislative proposals, and the implementation of policies.

The seminar will in particular analyse the institutional tension between the executive function and the legislative function, and thus the role of the European Parliament, the Commission and the Council in the context of comitology committees. It will also explore recent and future developments in the area of comitology and analyse the potential implications of the EU’s Constitutional Treaty.

Provisional Programme

Monday, 14 March 2005

09.30 Welcome
Beatrice VACCARI, Thomas CHRISTIANSEN

09.45 Introduction to the Seminar
Thomas CHRISTIANSEN, Beatrice VACCARI

10.00 Comitology in Context: The Role of Committees in the EU Policy-Process
Thomas CHRISTIANSEN

10.45 The Role of Expert Advisory Groups
Torbjørn LARSSON

11.45 Coffee break

12.00 Committees and Working Groups in the Council of Ministers
External expert (invited)

13.30 Lunch

14.30 Simulation of a Council Working Group. Introduction to the simulation
Thomas CHRISTIANSEN, Beatrice VACCARI

14.45 Simulation

16.30 End of the Simulation/Evaluation
Thomas CHRISTIANSEN, Beatrice VACCARI

17.00 End of first day

19.00 Dinner at a local restaurant

Tuesday, 15 March 2005

09.30 Institutional Tensions in Comitilogy: The Role of the European Parliament
External expert (invited)

10.30 Coffee break

11.00 The Comitology Procedures
Thomas CHRISTIANSEN

11.45 Transparency in Comitology: Access to Documents and Standard Rules of Procdure
Beatrice VACCARI

12.30 Lunch

13.30 Guided tour of Maastricht

15.00 Case Law in the Area of Comitology
Beatrice VACCARI

15.45 Comitology in Practice
External expert (invited)

16.45 Questions and Answers/Open Discussion
Beatrice VACCARI, Thomas CHRISTIANSEN

17.00 End of second day

Wednesday, 16 March 2005

09.30 Future Developments in Comitology
Thomas CHRISTIANSEN

09.45  Simulation of a Comitology Committee. Introduction to the simulation
Beatrice VACCARI, Thomas CHRISTIANSEN

10.15 Coffee break

10.45 Start of the Simulation

12.30 Lunch

13.30 Simulation (continued)

14.30 End of the Simulation Evaluation
Beatrice VACCARI, Thomas CHRISTIANSEN

15.00 Evaluation of the Seminar
Beatrice VACCARI, Thomas CHRISTIANSEN

15.30 End of the seminar

General Information

Programme
The programme will commence on the first day at 09.00 hrs at the European Institute of Public Administration and will finish with an evaluation of the seminar on the third day at 15.30 hrs.

Seminar Venue
European Institute of Public Administration
O.L. Vrouweplein 22
NL – 6211 HE Maastricht
Tel: +31 43 3296 222
Fax: +31 43 3296 296

Working language
The seminar will be conducted in English.

Fee
The registration fee is EUR 850 and includes reference materials, three lunches, one dinner and beverages. Accommodation and travel costs are at the expense of the participants or their administration.

Hotel reservations
EIPA has booked a limited number of rooms at Hotel Beaumont**** (www.beaumont.nl) in Maastricht at a special rate of EUR 95 for a single room per night (including breakfast and tourist tax). If participants wish us to book accommodation for them, please indicate this on the application form together with arrival and departure dates and the number of overnight stays required. Payment is to be made directly and personally to the hotel on checking out.

Meals
The lunches will be served  at the Institute’s restaurant and dinner in the evening will be 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.

Registration
Kindly complete the registration form and return it before 1 March 2005 to Ms Belinda Vetter, Programme Organisation Division, European Institute of Public Administration, P.O. Box 1229, 6201 BE Maastricht, The Netherlands. (Tel: +31 43 3296 382; Fax: +31 43 3296 296; e-mail: b.vetter@eipa-nl.com). You can also submit the on-line registration form which you can find on EIPA’s web site: http://www.eipa.nl
Please note that the number of participants is limited. Should the maximum number have been reached, you will automatically be placed on the waiting list. Late registration may be possible, please contact the programme organiser for details.

Confirmation
Confirmation of registration will be forwarded, together with other relevant details, to participants on receipt of the completed registration form.

Payment
Prior payment is a condition of participation. Please indicate on the registration form the method of payment. For cancellations received after 4 March 2005, we will have to charge an administration fee of EUR 150 unless a replacement participant is found.

Should you wish to receive any further information on the practical aspects of the seminars, please do not hesitate to contact our programme organiser, Ms Belinda Vetter (tel.: +31-43-3296 382), or to consult our web site: www.eipa.nl.