Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: redundancies in the glass sector in Belgium

PURPOSE: to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund to assist Belgium in respect of redundancies its glass sector.

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision (EU) 2016/407 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (application from Belgium EGF/2015/007 — BE/Hainaut-Namur Glass).

CONTENT: with this present Decision, the European Parliament and the Council decided to mobilise EUR 1 095 544 in commitment and payment appropriations from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund under the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2016.

This amount shall assist Belgium following redundancies and cessations of activities in the economic sector classified under the NACE Revision 2 Division 23 (Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products) in the NUTS level 2 regions of Hainaut (B32) and Namur (B35).

In accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013 (EGF Regulation), the application from Belgium is considered admissible since the redundancies have a serious impact on employment and the local, regional and national economy. Therefore, the European Parliament and the Council decided to grant the abovementioned amount.

To recall, the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) aims to provide support for workers made redundant and self-employed persons whose activity has ceased as a result of major structural changes in world trade patterns due to globalisation, as a result of a continuation of the global financial and economic crisis, or as a result of a new global financial and economic crisis, and to assist them with their reintegration into the labour market.

In accordance with this Regulation, Belgium has decided to provide personalised services co-financed by the EGF also to 100 young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs).

Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 provides that the EGF shall not exceed a maximum annual amount of EUR 150 million.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 19.3.2016. It shall apply from 9.3.2016.