The European Parliament adopted by 573 votes to 48, with 25 abstentions, a resolution approving the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for a total amount of EUR 2 570 853 in commitment and payment appropriations in respect of redundancies in the Irish crystal production sector.
Parliament recalls that the European Union set up the appropriate legislative and budgetary instruments to provide additional support to workers who suffer from the consequences of major structural changes in world trade patterns and to assist their reintegration into the labour market.
Noting that Ireland has requested assistance in respect of cases concerning redundancies in Waterford Crystal and in three of its suppliers (Thomas Fennell Engineering Ltd, RPS Engineering Services, Abbey Electric) operating in the crystal sector and that this application fulfils the eligibility criteria set up by the EGF Regulation, Parliament requests the institutions involved to make the necessary efforts to accelerate the mobilisation of the EGF for the requested amount.
It also recalls the institutions' commitment to ensure 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.
In addition, Parliament recalls that:
- the EGF should support the reintegration of the individual redundant workers into employment and that assistance from the EGF shall not replace actions which are the responsibility of companies by virtue of national law or collective agreements, nor measures restructuring companies or sectors;
- in the context of mobilising the EGF, the Commission should not systematically transfer payment appropriations from the ESF, since the EGF was created as a separate specific instrument with its own objectives and deadlines;
- the functioning and the added value of the EGF should be evaluated in the context of the general assessment of the programmes and other various instruments created by the IIA of 17 May 2006, within the process of the 2007-2013 multiannual financial framework mid-term review.
In addition, Parliament welcomes the new format of the Commission's proposal, presenting in its explanatory memorandum, clear and detailed information on the application, analysing the eligibility criteria and explaining the reasons which lead to its approval, which is in line with the Parliament's requests.
Lastly, Members note that the information provided on the co-ordinated package of personalised services to be funded from the EGF includes detailed information on the complementarity with actions funded by the Structural Funds. However, they call on the Commission to present a comparative evaluation of these data in its annual reports as well.