Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: redundancies in textiles sector in Belgium and computer manufacturing industry in Ireland
MEPs recall 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. Given that Belgium and Ireland requested assistance in respect of cases concerning redundancies in the textiles sector in the Belgian regions of East and West Flanders and Limburg, and in the computer manufacturing industry in the Irish counties of Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary, as well as the city of Limerick, and that both applications have fulfilled the eligibility criteria set up by the EGF Regulation, MEPs request the institutions involved to make the necessary efforts to accelerate the mobilisation of the EGF for the requested amount.
MEPs recall the institutions' commitment to ensure a smooth and rapid procedure for the adoption of the decisions on the mobilisation of the Fund. In particular, they stress that the European Union should use all its means to face the consequences of the global economic and financial crisis and that in this respect the EGF can play a crucial role in the reintegration of the workers made redundant into the labour market.
The report also recalls 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;
- 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 budget review.
It should also be noted that the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs has assessed the Commission's proposal and has no objections to raise in the case of Belgian applications, whereas clarifications have been requested form the Commission on the Irish application regarding the Dell case. MEPs will evaluate the consequences of the Commission replies before taking its final decision both on the legal and budgetary instrument.
Lastly, MEPs expect the Commission to take stock of the current difficulties and to present from now on its proposals for decisions on the mobilisation of the EGF in separate documents: one proposal for a decision per Member State application.