Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: technical assistance

The European Parliament adopted by 547 votes to 33, with 49 abstentions, a resolution approving the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on mobilising the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) for displaced workers to provide an amount of EUR 165 000 in commitment and payment appropriations for technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission under the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2024.

The proposed amount of EUR 165 000 corresponds to approximately 0.49 % of the maximum annual budget available for the EGF in 2024.

Parliament noted that the Commission will use the available budget under the administrative support to organise meetings of the Expert Group of Contact Persons of the EGF (which includes two members from each Member State) and a seminar with the participation of the implementing bodies of the EGF and social partners to promote networking among Member States.

The Commission is invited to:

- continue to invite Parliament systematically to these meetings and seminars, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Framework Agreement on relations between Parliament and the Commission;

- adapt the best practices which were developed during the times of the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular measures that can help to accelerate an inclusive green and digital transition and support core priorities of the Union, such as gender equality;

- regularly update and expand it, in order to increase the visibility of the European solidarity demonstrated by the EGF to the general public and increase the transparency of Union action.

Parliament reminded applicant Member States of their key role in widely publicising the actions funded by EGF to the targeted beneficiaries, local and regional authorities, social partners, the media and the general public.

Members welcomed the continued work on the standardised procedures for EGF applications and management using the functionalities of the electronic data exchange system (Shared Fund Management Common System - SFC), which allows for the simplification and faster processing of applications, and better reporting.