This (2-stage) online course will focus on the new Project Appraisal requirements for EU co-financed investment projects and the new Economic Appraisal Vademecum of DG REGIO. It will clarify the link between the Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) Guide, CBA requirements and using the Vademecum.

For 2021-2027, major projects are no longer specifically defined. Nor will there be an EU approval mechanism for large investment projects co-financed under Cohesion Policy. However, Member states are still obliged to select the most cost-effective projects.

The new Economic Appraisal Vademecum provided by the EC for the period 2021-2027 is provided as a supplement to the European Commission (DG REGIO) CBA Guide, which will remain in use. It recommends proportionate efforts in project appraisal and highlights good sectoral practices. It offers a guide to simplified CBA and other appraisal techniques, such as cost-effectiveness tests and multi-criteria analyses.

This 5-day course consists of 2 stages: Basic and Advanced.

Stage 1 Basic (8-9 November) takes place over two half-days and it will cover the methods, concepts and calculations contained in the DG REGIO Cohesion Policy CBA Guide.

Stage 2 Advanced (10 & 13-14 November) spans three half-days. Leading experts from the European Commission, the European Investment Bank and the academic world will discuss:

Best practice in using CBA for project appraisal
Best practice lessons from Major Projects
The new DG REGIO requirements
Alternative project appraisal techniques; project quality standards, 2021-2027
Using CBA for other instruments, such as the Connecting Europe Facility