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

PURPOSE: to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to assist Finland in respect of redundancies in the mobile phone sector using Microsoft technology.

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision (EU) 2017/1600 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund following an application from Finland — EGF/2017/002 FI/Microsoft 2.

CONTENT: with the present decision, the European Parliament and the Council decided to mobilise EUR 3 520 080 in commitment and payment appropriations from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) within the framework of the budget 2017.

As a reminder, the request to obtain financial assistance from the EGF was submitted by Finland on 1 February 2017 following redundancies in Microsoft Oy (Microsoft Mobile Oy) and 11 suppliers and downstream producers and cessations of activities.

In accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the EGF for the period 2014-2020, this application complies with the requirements for determining a financial contribution from the EGF.

The 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. It has a maximum annual budget of EUR 150 million for the period 2014-2020.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 23.9.2017. In order to minimise the time taken to mobilise the EGF, this decision should apply from the date of its adoption (13.9.2017).