Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: redundancies in telecommunications sector in Germany

2009/2078(BUD)

The European Parliament adopted by 598 votes to 49, with 30 abstentions, a resolution approving a decision concerning the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund.

The fund will be mobilised for a total amount of EUR 5 553 850 in commitment and payment appropriations in favour of Germany, in order to cover the assistance to workers made redundant in mobile phone 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.

Given that Germany has requested assistance in respect of cases concerning redundancies in the telecommunications sector (workers made redundant by Nokia GmbH on 6 February 2009 in the region of Bochum) and has fulfilled the eligibility criteria set up by the EGF Regulation, Parliament invites the institutions involved to make the necessary efforts to accelerate the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) for the requested amount.

Parliament underlines that the European Union should use all its means to face the consequences of the global economic and financial crisis. It notes, in this respect, that the EGF can play a crucial role in the reintegration of the workers made redundant into the labour market.

Lastly, Parliament recalls that the mobilisation of the EGF in payment appropriations should not jeopardise the funding of the European Union Social Fund. It expresses some doubts about whether complimentarity with other existing instruments like the EU Social Fund is guaranteed. It is for this reason that the European Parliament commits itself to evaluate the functioning and added value of the EGF in the context of the general assessment of the programmes and other various instruments created by the IIA of 17 May 2006 on budgetary discipline and sound financial management, within the process of the 2007-2013 multiannual financial framework budget review.