European State Aid Law

Workshop |

16.09.2026 |

Brussels |

Language: English

EStALI Autumn Workshop: State Aid and Financial Instruments

The 2026 EStALI Autumn Workshop on State Aid and Financial Instruments will bring together legal experts, practitioners, policymakers, and academics to examine the role of financial instruments within the EU State aid framework. The seminar will provide a focused setting to discuss how financial instruments are situated in State aid law, how the aid component can be identified and quantified, and how different forms of support may be structured in compliance with EU rules.

Through expert-led sessions and an interactive format, participants will explore key legal and practical questions, including State aid at multiple levels, cumulation and combination of aid instruments, ex-ante assessment, de minimis aid, block exemptions, notified measures, and off-the-shelf instruments. Practical case examples will also address tailor-made loans, loan-and-grant structures, and guarantee-and-grant combinations.

Participants receive a certificate upon completion.

+++ For further information, e.g. about the prices, please click on Details +++

+++ Register before 05 August 2026 to avail of our 10% early bird discount! +++

Prices

Participation fees for participation in Brussels:
Regular fee | Workshop: € 1550,- (excl. VAT)
Regular fee | EStALI Conference + Workshop: € 2010,- (excl. VAT)
Reduced fee for public authorities and full-time academics | Workshop: € 1450,- (excl. VAT)
Reduced fee for public authorities and full-time academics | EStALI Conference + Workshop: € 1910,- (excl. VAT)

VAT will be added if applicable.

Discount for European State Aid Law Quarterly (EStAL) subscribers: € 100,-

Group Discounts

Group registration of three or more participants will automatically receive a 10% discount.

We offer group discounts upon request. Please contact Owen Grieves at [email protected] or +49 (030)81 45 06 17. We will be happy to assist you with your group registration.

Course Material – No need to miss anything!

If you are unable to attend the course you may want to order all the presentations shown during the event. The price is € 249,- (excl. of VAT). If interested, please contact Owen Grieves.

Who should participate?

Private legal practitioners
Representatives from public authorities on national, regional and local level
Representatives from public and private banks
Industry representatives and in-house counsels dealing with State aid law
Economists
Academics

Benefits of Attending

Join the leading State aid Community to discuss latest developments in European State aid control with acknowledged practitioners

Participate in various expert panel discussion. Interact with leading experts from the European Commission, EU Courts, national authorities, private legal practitioners, academics and industry representatives.

Programme

Wednesday, 16. September

Event Chairs

Caroline Buts , Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences and Solvay Business School, Vrije Universiteit Brussel; Academic Director EStALI; Managing Editor European State Aid Law Quarterly (EStAL)

Seppe Maes , Postdoctoral Researcher & Teacher, Faculty of Social Sciences and Solvay Business School, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

09:00

Registration & Welcome

09:15

Introduction

Situating financial instruments
Financial instruments in the State aid framework
Typology of financial instruments

Caroline Buts , Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences and Solvay Business School, Vrije Universiteit Brussel; Academic Director EStALI; Managing Editor European State Aid Law Quarterly (EStAL)

Seppe Maes , Postdoctoral Researcher & Teacher, Faculty of Social Sciences and Solvay Business School, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

10:30

Coffee Break

10:45

Determining the State Aid Component

State aid at multiple levels
Quantification of the aid component
Cumulation and combination of aid instruments
Ex-ante assessment: evidence-based decision making

Sarah Blazek , Partner, Jones Day, Munich

12:30

Lunch

14:00

Implementing Aid via Financial Instruments

Overview financial instruments in GBER and de minimis
Calculation of aid contained in financial instruments
Overview financial instrument-specific GBER aid articles

Joachim Keller , Policy Officer, Directorate-General Competition, European Commission, Brussels

Astrid Van Landschoot , Policy Officer, Directorate-General Competition, European Commission, Brussels

15:30

Coffee Break

15:45

Case Examples and Key Takeaways

Tailor-made instruments: loan
Tailor-made instruments: loan + grant
Tailor-made instruments: guarantee + grant

Caroline Buts , Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences and Solvay Business School, Vrije Universiteit Brussel; Academic Director EStALI; Managing Editor European State Aid Law Quarterly (EStAL)

Seppe Maes , Postdoctoral Researcher & Teacher, Faculty of Social Sciences and Solvay Business School, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

16:45

Quiz and Closing Remarks

Caroline Buts , Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences and Solvay Business School, Vrije Universiteit Brussel; Academic Director EStALI; Managing Editor European State Aid Law Quarterly (EStAL)

Seppe Maes , Postdoctoral Researcher & Teacher, Faculty of Social Sciences and Solvay Business School, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

17:00

End of Workshop

Speakers

Caroline Buts

Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences and Solvay Business School, Vrije Universiteit Brussel; Academic Director EStALI; Managing Editor European State Aid Law Quarterly (EStAL)

More info

Seppe Maes

Postdoctoral Researcher & Teacher, Faculty of Social Sciences and Solvay Business School, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

More info

Sarah Blazek

Partner, Jones Day, Munich

More info

Joachim Keller

Policy Officer, Directorate-General Competition, European Commission, Brussels

More info

Astrid Van Landschoot

Policy Officer, Directorate-General Competition, European Commission, Brussels

More info

Venue

Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)

Pleinlaan 5 (Room 4.21)
Brussels, Belgium

Phone

View the VUB Campus Map and Layout

Online-Registration

Workshop | 16.09.2026 | Brussels | Language: English

Further information incl. prices under Details.

Discount for European State Aid Law Quarterly (EStAL) subscribers: € 100,-

Seating limit
The number of participants for the EStALI Workshop in Brussels is limited.

Do you also want to participate in the EStALI Conference?

YES, I will take part in

21% VAT (Belgium) will be added if applicable. The participation fee covers conference/course materials. If attending face-to-face the participation fee includes drinks and snacks during breaks and warm meals (if indicated).

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EStALI Autumn Workshop: State Aid and Financial Instruments

Details

Prices

Group Discounts

Who should participate?

Benefits of Attending

Programme

Wednesday, 16. September

Speakers

Venue

Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)

View the VUB Campus Map and Layout

Online-Registration

Further information incl. prices under Details.