Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: redundancies in the ICT sector in Finland

PURPOSE: to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) for EUR 5 364 000 to assist Finland in respect of redundancies in the information and communications technology sector (in particular, the mobile phone sector).

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision (EU) 2016/1857 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (following an application from Finland — EGF/2016/001 FI/Microsoft).

CONTENT: under this Decision, the European Parliament and the Council decided to mobilise EUR 5 364 000 in commitment and payment appropriations under the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund in the framework of the 2016 budget.

This amount shall assist Finland financially in respect of redundancies in Microsoft (Microsoft Mobile Oy) and 8 suppliers and downstream producers.

Given that the application complies with the requirements for determining a financial contribution from the EGF as laid down in Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013, the European Parliament and the Council have responded by granting the above-mentioned amount.

In brief, 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.

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

ENTRY INTO FORCE: the Decision shall enter into force on 20.10.2016 and shall apply from 11.10.2016.