The European Parliament adopted by 600 votes to 87, with 18 abstentions, a resolution on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council to mobilise the European Globalisation Fund for EUR 750 000 in commitment and payment appropriations to finance technical assistance at the initiative of the European Commission (application EGF/2013/000 TA 2013).
Parliament approved the proposed decision annexed to the resolution.
The resolution is accompanied by a series of general observations on the management of the EGF, its evaluation, the importance of networking and exchange of information on the EGF.
Members recall that the European Union with its European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) has set up legislative and budgetary instruments to provide additional support to workers who are suffering from the consequences of major structural changes in world trade patterns, aggravated by the economic, financial and social crisis, and to assist their reintegration into the labour market. They stress that the Union's financial assistance to workers made redundant should be adequate and made available as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Parliament also recalls that up to 0.35% of the annual EGF amount can be made available each year for technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission, in order to finance monitoring, information, administrative and technical support, as well as audit, control and evaluation activities necessary to implement the EGF Regulation, including the provision of information and guidance for the Member States in using, monitoring and evaluating the EGF.
Parliament fully supports the funding of the Expert Group of Contact Persons of the EGF as well as other networking activities among the Member States provided for in the proposal as well as measures to further enhance the liaising between all those involved in EGF applications, including namely the social partners, to create as many synergies as possible.
At the same time, Parliament is concerned about the possible adverse impact which reducing the staffing level may have on the swift, regular and effective evaluation of incoming applications and implementation of the EGF technical assistance. It regrets that the Commission does not envisage any particular awareness-raising activities for 2013 given that some Member States, including users of the EGF, question the utility and advantages of the EGF.
Implementation of the EGF: Parliament invites the Member States and all the institutions involved to make the necessary efforts to improve procedural and budgetary arrangements in order to accelerate the mobilisation of the EGF. It notes in this sense, the improved procedure put in place by the Commission, following Parliament's request to accelerate the release of grants. Members welcome the fact that the 2013 budget shows allocated payment appropriations of EUR 50 million on the EGF budget line 04 05 01 in order to avoid using transfers from other budget lines.
On the other hand, Parliament deeply regrets the decision of the Council to block the extension of the 'crisis derogation' which allows provision of financial assistance to workers made redundant as a result of the current social, financial and economic crisis, in addition to those losing their job because of changes in global trade patterns, and which allows an increase in the rate of Union co-financing to 65% of the programme costs, for applications submitted after the 31 December 2011 deadline. It calls on the Council to reintroduce this measure without delay.