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Welcome
The European Commission is reforming its State aid policy, a process which began with the announcement of the State Aid Action Plan in 2005, when the Commission announced that it "intends to [...] focus aid on improving the competitiveness of EU industry and creating sustainable jobs (more aid for R & D, innovation and risk capital for small firms), on ensuring social and regional cohesion and improving public services. The Commission also aims to rationalise and streamline procedures, so that the rules are clearer and less aid has to be notified, and to accelerate decision-making." This process is now reaching fruition, and this year, in addition to the adoption of many important decisions on individual State aid cases this year, has adopted - A complete revision of the procedural rules; - Streamlined complaints procedures - New Environmental State Aid Guidelines - In July, this will be accompanies by the new General Block Exemption, probably the most important part of the reform. A real understanding of these reforms is vital for all companies operating in the EU, as well as for national governments and for the legal community. Claeys and Casteels was therefore proud to announce a major conference to explain and discuss in detail these new reforms, and, at the same time the launch of a major new book on State aid, written by the key Commission officials responsible for State aid.  Keynote speech by Karel Van Miert  Session I: Conor Quigley, Koen Van de Casteele, Michael Schütte  Session II: Damien Neven  Session II: Gunnar Niels  Session III: Leigh Hancher  Commentators session III: Andreas Bartosch & Robert Klotz  Session IV: Herbert Ungerer  The editors of "EU Competition Law Volume 4 - State Aid": Wolfgang Mederer, Nicola Pesaresi, Marc van Hoof with Chris Claeys  At the closing reception: speakers Francesco Salerno and Jose Luis Buendia |