Public Services and State Aid 2010

A properly defined, contracted and controlled public service:
= absence of incompatible State Aid prohibited by the EU
= a condition for the effective achievement of quality and legitimate prices for public services for the public sector and service users 
 
The Public Services and State Aid 2010 conference will bring answers to highly relevant questions, which arise with services of general economic interest, even more so after adoption of the Lisbon Treaty and the European Union’s new option of issuing regulations with binding rules to secure a minimal standard in the provision of these services on the internal EU market.
Services of general economic interest are provided to the general public (the public is often dependent on these services, which is why they must be provided in its interest). Among other things, these include telecommunications, the gas and power industry, transportation, postal services, certain types of social services, waste management services, water supply and wastewater treatment, social housing, healthcare, radio and television broadcasting, public transit, airport and port services.

The conference will focus on applying the general rules ensuing from European Union law, also in the context of cases that occur during the provision of financial aid from EU funds. It will point out the results, implications and current legal and economic problems in the public services sector in relation to public contracts, concessions and State Aid. It will show examples of best practice in contracting and controlling public services, which are relevant not only in terms of the non-existence of incompatible State Aid prohibited by the EU; they are also in the social interest of effective enforcement of quality and a legitimate price for these services by the public sector, and secondarily by the users of these services. 
Representatives of the public sector, European Commission, Office for the Protection of Economic Competition and leading consultants in the sector will deliver their presentations and opinions on the foregoing issues.

We look forward to seeing you.

Libuše Kameníčková, Conference Manager