The Commission presented a report on the activities of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) in 2015 and 2016.
The EGF aims to provide assistance to workers who have lost their jobs due to major changes in the structure of world trade. It co-finances active labour market policy measures taken by the Member States to help redundant workers to find new jobs.
Overview: in 2015 and 2016, the Commission received 20 applications from the following 11 Member States: Belgium, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden.
The budgetary authority decided to mobilise the EGF in 17 cases, while three applications were withdrawn by the Member States. With regard to those 17 applications, a total EGF amount of EUR 51 171 249 was requested by the Member States (EUR 35 400 623 in 2015, EUR 15 770 626 in 2016).
The greatest number of applications was received for the sector motor vehicles, trailers and semitrailers, followed by computer, electronic and optical products and machinery and equipment. For the first time, a request for intervention was submitted regarding redundancies in the sector manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products.
In 2015 and 2016, the budgetary authority took 25 decisions to mobilise the EGF funding. The 25 contributions granted targeted 25 353 beneficiaries (thereof 1 251 NEETs) in 11 Member States, with a total amount of EUR 70 392 546 granted from the EGF funding (average EUR 2 776 per targeted beneficiary).
Results achieved by the EGF: the 26 final reports submitted by Member States show that by the end of the EGF implementation period, 8 986 workers, or 46% of the 19 434 beneficiaries who had benefited from the Fund, had found work (7 521 as employees, 1 465 as self-employed). About 3% were still in education or training, while 49% were unemployed or inactive for various reasons.
The support packages provided by the Member States to the targeted beneficiaries include a wide range of personalised job search, outplacement and (re)qualification measures.
The highest amounts were spent on 3 categories:
- job search allowances: EUR 48.8 million;
- individual case management: EUR 24.2 million;
- training and retraining: EUR 23.3 million.
The EGF evaluation findings show that EGF assistance helps beneficiaries (the redundant workers or the NEETs) build-up self-esteem, not only through intense guidance counselling, but also particularly through tailor-made training measures. The EGF often also enables beneficiaries to take part in these measures by offering assistance such as mobility allowances or by supporting childcare provision.
Regulation (EC) No 546/2009, with its inclusion of the crisis criterion, had a considerable impact on the number of applications received by the Commission: from 2009 (when the relevant amendment became applicable) to 31 December 2011, there was a significant rise in applications.
The report noted that 147 applications submitted by Member States from 2007 to 2016. A total of EUR 592 894 194 has been requested so far for measures in favour of 140 545 targeted beneficiaries.
The Commission proposed the extension of the derogation for NEETs in the EGF-Regulation, as well as some changes that would facilitate the budgetary procedure regarding the mobilisation of the EGF.