Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: redundancies in textiles and automobile sectors

The European Parliament adopted, by 555 votes to 40 with 35 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, in application of point 28 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management.  The report had been tabled for consideration in plenary by Reimer BÖGE (PPE-DE, DE) on behalf of the Committee on Budgets.

Parliament recommended that, for the general budget of the EU for the financial year 2008, the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund should be mobilised to provide the sum of EUR 3 106 882 in commitment and payment appropriations. This sum is for the benefit of Portugal and Malta, with the aim of assisting 1549 Portuguese car industry workers and 675 Maltese textile industry workers to retrain.

Parliament recalled that, on 12 September 2007, Malta submitted an application to deploy the Fund, in respect of redundancies in the textile sector, specifically for workers made redundant by VF (Malta) Ltd and Bortex Clothing Ind Co Ltd. On 9 October 2007 Portugal submitted an application to deploy the Fund, in respect of redundancies in the automobile sector, specifically for workers made redundant by Opel in Azambuja, Alcoa Fujikura in Seixal and Johnson Controls in Portalegre. The applications comply with the requirements for determining the financial contributions as laid down in Article 10 of Regulation (EC) N°1927/2006.

Parliament requested the institutions involved to make the necessary efforts to accelerate the mobilisation of the Fund. It stressed its concern, however, regarding the nature of measures financed from the Fund with a view to reducing the number of persons remaining unemployed. Parliament asked the Commission, in cooperation with the Portuguese authorities, to closely monitor the situation in relation to the provisions of Article 3, second paragraph, of Regulation (EC) N° 1927/2006 and to report to the legislative and budgetary authorities.