Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: redundancies in the transport sector in Austria

The European Parliament adopted by 534 votes to 71, with 19 abstentions, a resolution on the proposal for a decision on mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for an amount of EUR 3 643 770 in commitment and payment appropriations in respect of redundancies in the transport sector in Austria.

Parliament recalls that the European Union has set up the appropriate legislative and budgetary instruments to provide additional support to workers who are suffering from the consequences of major structural changes in world trade patterns and to assist their reintegration into the labour market. Given that Austria has requested assistance in respect of a case concerning 2 338 redundancies, from which 502 targeted for assistance, in 706 enterprises operating in the NACE Revision 2 Division 49 ('Land transport and transport via pipelines') in the NUTS II regions of Niederösterreich (AT12) and Oberösterreich (AT31) in Austria, Parliament requests the institutions involved to make the necessary efforts to accelerate the mobilisation of the EGF for the requested amount. It appreciates in this sense the improved procedure put in place by the Commission, following the Parliament's request for accelerating the release of grants. Members hope that further improvements in the procedure will be reached in the framework of the upcoming reviews of the EGF.

Parliament recalls the institutions’ commitment to ensuring a smooth and rapid procedure for the adoption of the decisions on the mobilisation of the EGF, providing one-off, time-limited individual support geared to helping workers who have suffered redundancies as a result of globalisation and the financial and economic crisis.

It also recalls that:

• assistance from the EGF must not replace actions which are the responsibility of companies by virtue of national law or collective agreements, nor measures restructuring companies or sectors;
• the information provided on the coordinated package of personalised services to be funded from the EGF includes information on the complementarity with actions funded by the Structural Funds.

Parliament welcomes the fact that, following repeated requests, for the first time the 2011 budget shows payment appropriations of EUR 47 608 950 on the EGF budget line 04 05 01. This dedicated allocation will avoid transfers from other budget lines, as happened in the past, which could be detrimental to the achievement of the various policies objectives.

Lastly, it welcomes the foreseen reinforcement of the EGF budget line 04.05.01. by EUR 50 million through Amending Budget 3/2011, which will be used to cover the amount needed for the present application.