SUNAJUST III

Acronym: SUNAJUST III
Title: Supporting National Judges on State Aid

1. What is the SUNAJUST III project about, and what challenge does it aim to address?
   SUNAJUST III is conceived as the next edition of the SUNAJUST training initiative aimed at strengthening national courts’ capacity to consistently apply and enforce EU State aid law in practice, i.e., equipping judges (and related court actors) to act effectively as “European State aid judges.”
   The core challenge it addresses is that State aid enforcement by national courts remains difficult and comparatively underdeveloped, partly because State aid rules are technically complex, have expanded over time (including via exemptions and crisis frameworks), and require judges to navigate both substantive and procedural EU law, manage its interaction with national legal frameworks, and address potential engagement with the European Commission and the Court of Justice of the European Union.
2. What are the key outcomes or innovations SUNAJUST III hopes to achieve?
   Building on the previous SUNAJUST editions, the main intended outcomes/innovations are likely to include:
   •    Practical training that improves a coherent application of EU State aid law by national courts, in line with the Commission’s judicial training objectives. 
   •    Updated and expanded learning materials (e.g., manuals and blended-learning tools) designed to be accessible and usable by judges dealing with real cases. 
   •    A stronger emphasis on hands-on problem-solving and case-based learning, especially via the advanced formats (the SUNAJUST approach includes basic and advanced workshops, as well as a closing conference and study visit).
   •    A sustained cross-border SUNAJUST Hub, which is an invitation-only network of trained judges, supporting peer exchange and thus contributes to a more consistent enforcement across Member States

3. SUNAJUST III builds on two previous successful projects. How are SUNAJUST I and II connected to this new project, and what lessons from them shaped SUNAJUST III?

   SUNAJUST II is explicitly described as a follow-up/continuation of SUNAJUST I, preserving the core concept (immersive training for national courts) while updating and expanding the content and delivery and adding deep dives in cases and methods.
   SUNAJUST III, in turn, would naturally build on the curriculum, materials, and delivery formats established in I and II, further scale/refine them and build a SUNAJUST Hub.

   Lessons carried forward:
   •    In-person interactive trainings deliver best results and build a network.
   •    Combining in-person workshops with reusable materials (manuals, clips, exercises) helps training “stick” and travel across jurisdictions.
   •    Different levels are needed: offering both basic and advanced training responds to heterogeneous prior knowledge among judges and makes the programme more durable.
   •    Practical orientation matters: case studies, methods, and cooperation tools are central.
   •    A hub and invitation-only network for judges dedicated to experience sharing and knowledge exchange responds to requests for more community building

4. Based on your experience with SUNAJUST I, II and now III, what tips would you give researchers who are considering applying for EU funding for training or knowledge exchange projects?

   •  Start from the users’ needs (here: judges’ work environment, constraints, and case types), and design around practical takeaways
   •    Show scalability and reuse so events can be re-deployed across countries.
   •    Design with impact and reach
   •    Budget realism and (logistics) efficiency are important: designing programmes, travel, scheduling, and accessibility are core part of the project
   •    Go for it: beyond the formal outputs, these projects tend to be particularly rewarding. They stay with you professionally and personally, create lasting memories, and foster strong networks and meaningful connections that often extend well beyond the lifetime of the project