Activities of Jean-Marc GERMAIN
Plenary speeches (8)
Continued financial and military support to Ukraine by EU Member States (debate)
Possible extradition of Paul Watson: the danger of criminalisation of environmental defenders and whistle-blowers, and the need for their protection in the EU (debate)
Ensuring sustainable, decent and affordable housing in Europe - encouraging investment, private property and public housing programmes (debate)
Establishing the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism and providing exceptional macro-financial assistance to Ukraine (debate)
General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2025 – all sections (debate)
The important role of cities and regions in the EU – for a green, social and prosperous local development (debate)
Protecting our oceans: persistent threats to marine protected areas in the EU and benefits for coastal communities (debate)
Enhancing Europe’s civilian and defence preparedness and readiness (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (application from Belgium – EGF/2024/001 BE/Match-Smatch)
Shadow opinions (1)
BUDGETARY ASSESSMENT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism and providing exceptional macro-financial assistance to Ukraine
Written questions (1)
Human rights violations by EU-funded forces in Tunisia
Amendments (17)
Amendment 31 #
2024/0234(COD)
Paragraph 13
13. Regrets the lack of clarity of the proposal on the final liability of the Union’s budget particularly in the framework of a loan guaranteed solely by the headroom, independently of the Ukraine Loan Mechanism support, or lack of thereof, for example in case there are significant changes to the sanctions regime underwriting the mechanism.
Amendment 2 #
2024/0226(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas Belgium submitted application EGF/2024/001 BE/Match- Smatch for a financial contribution from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF), following a total number of 513 displacements5 in the economic sector classified under the NACE Revision 2 division 47 (Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles) in the provinces of Hainaut (BE32), Liège (BE33), and Namur (BE35) with 444 displacements within a reference period for the application from 11 December 2023 to 11 April 2024, and 69 displacements before or after the reference period; whereas workers in this region have experienced increased hardship due to lack of sufficient alternatives; whereas employees in the Belgian commerce sector in general find themselves in a precarious situation, brought upon by the broader structural transformations taking place within the industry; _________________ 5 Within the meaning of Article 3 of the EGF Regulation.
Amendment 3 #
2024/0226(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the application relates to 444 displacements within the reference period for the application whose activity has ceased in Match-Smatch; whereas many of these workers have been long- term employees, creating an additional barrier to re-entry into the labour market, with trade unions highlighting that many of these layoffs occurred without sufficient negotiation and without exploring alternative options to retain workers or transition them into new roles;
Amendment 4 #
2024/0226(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the application relates to 69 displacements whose activity ceased before or after the reference period of four months, where a clear causal link can be established with the event that triggered the cessations of activity of the displaced workers during the reference period as required by Article 6(2) of the EGF Regulation; whereas trade unions have expressed concerns that these workers were prematurely laid off as part of a larger restructuring that did not adequately consider their welfare, and that little effort was made to mitigate the impact on these vulnerable employees;
Amendment 5 #
2024/0226(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the application is based on the intervention criteria of Article 4(2), point (a), of EGF Regulation, which requires the cessation of activity of at least 200 displaced workers over a reference period of four months in an enterprise in a Member State, including workers displaced in suppliers and downstream producers and/or self-employed persons whose activity has ceased; whereas trade unions point to this as an example of mass layoffs and hyperflexibility becoming more common in the retail sector;
Amendment 6 #
2024/0226(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the Belgian food retail sector recorded a significant decline in volumes sold in 2023, due to the energy and inflationary crisis, and increased cross- border shopping and e-commerce; whereas trade unions highlight that despite these external challenges, the sector has failed to adequately protect its workers through effective collective agreements and adequate social dialogue;
Amendment 8 #
2024/0226(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas to prevent a further accumulation of losses, Match-Smatch accepted the Colruyt Group’s offer to acquire 57 of the 84 stores in September 2023, also taking over the stores' staff (1 069 people); whereas eight additional stores went to Carrefour, Delhaize, Intermarche and Delfood; whereas workers, particularly those in non- acquired stores, have been left uncertain about their future, with trade unions raising alarms about the lack of clear communication and safeguards for workers in the event of store closures and restructuring;
Amendment 11 #
2024/0226(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas the multiannual financial framework (MFF) revision reduces the maximum annual amount of the EGF from EUR 186 million to EUR 30 million (in 2018 prices), as laid down in Article 8 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 as amended by Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/765; whereas all institutions needthe Commission should closely monitor the implementation of the EGF and all institutions should take any and all necessary measures to ensure that, despite these cuts, workers made redundant can count on EU solidarity via support of the EGF;
Amendment 13 #
2024/0226(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that half of the Match- Smatch redundant workers (46 %) are aged fifty or older, an age group that faces more barriers to employment and that in the last quarter of 2023, there was a difference of 18,3 percentage points between the employment rate for the 20-54 age group (76,8 %) and the employment rate for the 55+ age group (58,5 %) at national level7 ; stresses that reskilling and upskilling the workers in line with labour-market demand for qualified jobs will thus pose a challenge, all the more considering the large number of people dismissed at the same time; _________________ 7 Statbel. Emploi et chômage (13.6.2024). Chiffres.
Amendment 14 #
2024/0226(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the fact that the co- ordinated package of personalised services has been drawn up by Belgium in consultation with targeted beneficiaries, their representatives and the social partners to make the affected areas, and the overall labour market, more sustainable and resilient in the future;
Amendment 17 #
2024/0226(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Notes that the digital and green transformationConsiders it a social responsibility of the Union to provide these workers made redundant with the necessary qualifications for the digital and green transformation of the Union industry and economy, which will also have an effect on the labour market; calls, therefore, for special attention to be paid to qualified and relevant education, including vocational training;
Amendment 3 #
2024/0212(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas between 3 and 6 August 2023, Slovenia was impacted by heavy rainfall which led to floods across the country and was its worst natural disaster to date, resulting in total direct damages of EUR 7.3 billion according to the Commission;
Amendment 6 #
2024/0212(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Highlights the increasing number of severe and destructive natural disasters in Europe and considers that the budget of the EUSF should be expanded; urges the Commission to increase the budget of the Solidarity and Emergency Aid Reserve (SEAR); further emphasizes the importance of ensuring adequate funding for EUSF or its equivalent, in view of the upcoming Commission proposal on the new Multiannual Financial Framework, including in its discussions and relevant inter-institutional negotiations;
Amendment 11 #
2024/0212(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Calls on the Commission to further streamline the procedure and shorten the time required for the processing of the applications for the mobilisation of the Fund;
Amendment 14 #
2024/0212(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Further stresses the need for reasonable flexibility in deadlines when recipient countries face justifiable delays and challenges in applying for and utilizing allocated funding;
Amendment 1 #
2024/0133(NLE)
Paragraph 1
1. ConsiderNotes that the support allocated to the Protocol should meets the objectives of cooperation in the fields of sustainable exploitation of fishery resources, aquaculture, sustainable development of the oceans, protection of the marine environment, and the blue economy; considers that this should be thoroughly scrutinized to ensure that this is done effectively during the implementation of the Protocol; notes that the support has a direct link to the principles of the Samoa Agreement reinforcing the Union’s external action towards African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and taking in particular account of the Union’s objectives with regard to democratic principles and human rights, strengthening EU presence in the region and the cooperation with an important strategic partner;
Amendment 2 #
2024/0133(NLE)
Paragraph 13
13. ConsiderStresses that the financial programming of line 08 05 01 is deemedneeds to be enough to cater for the financial obligations in the years 2025-2027 subject to the decision of the budgetary authority in the annual budgetary procedures; in this regard, notes that line 08 05 01 in the 2025 Draft Budget and in the Council Position on the 2025 Draft Budget include an amount of EUR 150 560 000 in commitment appropriations (CA) and EUR 135 275 000 in payment appropriations (PA); calls for scrutiny regarding the financial programming of line 08 05 01 in the annual budgets of 2026 and 2027;