EU Guidelines for State Aid for Regional Airports

The discussions about state aid for regional airports started in 2004 with the so-called Charleroi Case. The Charleroi airport (now called Brussels South) and the region Wallonie were accused of forbidden State Aid by the European Commission. Quite a few regions, regional airports and low fare airlines expressed their opinion on this case which lead in 2005 to the “The community guidelines on financing of airports and start-up aid to airlines departing from regional airports” (Official Journal C 312 9f 09.12.2005). In 2007 AER organised a conference in Poznan (Poland) about the (negative) consequences of these guidelines for the development of regional airports and regions. 

These guidelines have to be renewed in 2010. The European Commission has started with the preparations and the discussion among regions has already begun. The new guidelines only can be fruitful for regional development when they take into consideration changes voiced by regions. 

Programme

9.00-9:15 Welcome 
Representative of Communidad Valenciana 

9.15-9:30 Opening 
Harry Dijksma, minister economic development of the region of Flevoland (NL), chairman of the AER working group regional aviation 

9:30-9:50 The EU guidelines and their implication for regional development 
Klaus Klipp, Secretary General of the Assembly of European Regions AER 

9.50-10:10 Regional airports in the region of Valencia 
Representative of the regional Government of Valencia 

10.10-10:30 Practical experiences with the present guidelines 
Annabelle Lepièce,, CMS DeBacker, lawyers, Brussels 

10.30-11:00 Coffee break 

11.00- 11.20 The guidelines and regional airports 
Christoph Köppchen, ACI Europe Policy Manager 

11.20-11.10 EU guidelines and Low Fare Airlines 
John Hanlon, secretary general of ELFAA (European Low Fare Airlines Association) 

11.50-12.10 Questions & Answers 

12:10-13:30 Lunch 

Regional airports, EU guidelines and regional development – practical examples 

13.30 – 13.50 EU opinions about the guidelines 
Jean Louis Colson, DG TREN European Commission 

13.50 –14.10 The development of Lelystad airport in Flevoland regin 
Representative of Lelystad Airport 

14.10—14.30 EU Guidelines and Brussels South Airport 
David Gering, commercial director 

14:30-15:00 Discussion 

15:00 Closing

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