EU Financing for Broadband Infrastructure Projects – Now and Beyond 2013

Jan. 23, 2013 - PRLog -- Over the next years, by far more investments are needed in order to ensure the development of high speed broadband internet in all regions of the European Union. However, in times of budgetary austerity and insufficient engagement of the industry to invest, especially in rural areas, the issue of financing is the biggest hurdle to achieve the ambitious goals for broadband set up by the Digital Agenda for Europe.

The EU provides multiple sources and instruments of financing broadband projects. The EU’s financial support for broadband will even increase over the next years: the new Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) starting in 2014 will provide an additional significant source of funding for broadband projects. Concurrently, in 2013, the European Commission adopts the new State Aid Guidelines for Broadband. These guidelines have to be taken into consideration while assessing whether State aid for broadband is admissible. The comprehension of the changes in the Guidelines is absolutely necessary to ensure approval of funding applications.

At this seminar attendees will benefit from the first-hand knowledge of leading European experts from the following key institutions and organisations:

·       Broadband Unit, DG CONNECT, European Commission
·       State Aids Unit, DG Competition, European Commission
·       Projects Directorate, European Investment Bank
·       ERDF Funded Project “Superfast North Yorkshire”, United Kingdom
·       Swedish Board of Agriculture, Managing Authority for EAFRD, Sweden
·       EAFRD Funded Project “Broadband for All”, Ministry of Transport and Communications, Finland.

Participants will learn among others:

·         What are the current and future EU funding instruments available for broadband projects

·         How to successfully apply for these financing opportunities now or beyond 2013 and how to avoid typical pitfalls in the application process

·         What are the practical challenges that can occur during the project’s implementation

·         How to meet the requirements set up in the new State aid Guidelines for Broadband and how to receive approval for State aid

All details concerning the speakers, the programme as well as the registration formalities are available in the seminar brochure: http://www.euroakad.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/dateien/seminars/EU_Financing_for_Broadband_Infrastructure_PR.pdf

About the European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law Berlin

The European Academy for Taxes, Economics & Law is an educational network for knowledge regarding the latest, relevant developments in Europe. Educational tools are specialised events for advanced learning and these vary from national and European seminars to workshops, panel discussions, in-house training, conferences and symposiums. These events provide the most current and relevant information with high practical relevance for authorities on the European, national, regional and local level and for private companies all across Europe.