The funding from the Structural Funds (ERDF, ESF, CF) as well as from the EARDF and EFF has to comply with the State aid regulations. All officers dealing with EU funded projects – both representing the funds managing bodies as well as funding beneficiaries - must recognise State aid infringements and be acquainted with related procedures. Furthermore, the applicable State aid rules need to be taken into account while designing the Operational Programmes. The accurate incorporation of the aid exemptions facilitates the implementation of the OPs and improves the absorption of EU funds.The training focuses on State aid issues of particular importance for EU funds specialists: - Relation between State Aid and Structural Funds – the obligations of Managing Authorities with respect to State aid and options for securing the compatibility in Operational Programmes and EU funded projects  - Concept of State Aid and Notification –assessement of State aid compatibility and notification of projects and funding schemes - State Aid Modernisation Initiative – state of play and its impacts for regional policy and the upcoming programming period - State aid in infrastructure projects – the Leipzig-Halle judgement and its implications from the point of view of an ERDF expert -  State aid for financial engineering instruments – the State aid requirements for the non-grant financial instruments in Cohesion programmes.The programme will be completed with an interactive session and discussion round on how to manage State aid in Operational Programmes for the programming period 2014-2020.Participate in the intensive exchange of knowledge and experience with our experts:- Prof. Dr. Phedon A. Nicolaides, Jan Tinbergen Professor and Director of Studies at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium- Lida-Konstantina Balta, Unit H1 - Regional aid, Directorate General for Competition, European Commission- Dr. Yvonne Simon, Legal Unit of Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy, European Commission- Péter Staviczky, Permanent Representation of Hungary to the EU, Brussels, Belgium- Alexander Rose, Department for Communities and Local Government, United KingdomIdentify State aid in your programmes and projects, learn how to make use of the State aid exemptions and facilitate the absorption of EU funds.