Activities of Marian HARKIN related to 2018/0202(COD)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) PDF (1 MB) DOC (214 KB)
Amendments (35)
Amendment 93 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) In February 2018, the Commission adopted its Communication on ‘A new, modern Multiannual Financial Framework for a European Union that delivers efficiently on its priorities post-2020’18 . The Communication stresses that the Union budget shall support Europe’s unique social market economy. Therefore, it will be of utmost importance to improve employment opportunities and to address the skills challenges, especially also those linked to digitisation. Budgetary flexibility shall be a key principle in the next Multiannual Financial Framework. Flexibility mechanisms shall remain in place to allow the Union to react rapidly to unforeseen events, and to ensure that budgetary resources are used where most urgently needed. __________________ 18 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta- political/files/communication-new- modern-multiannual-financial- framework_en.pdf
Amendment 97 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) In its ‘Reflection Paper on Harnessing Globalisation’20 the Commission identifies the combination of trade related globalisation and technological change as the major drivers of an increased demand for skilled labour and a reduced number of jobs that require lower qualifications. Despite the overall tremendous advantages of more open trade and further integration of world economies, these negative side effects need to be tackled. As the current benefits of globalisation are already unequally distributed among people and regions, causing a significant impact on those adversely affected, there is a danger that the ever faster evolving technological advances will further fuel these effects. Therefore, in line with the principles of solidarity and sustainability, it will be necessary to ensure that the benefits of globalisation will be shared more fairly by reconciling economic openinggrowth and technological advance with social protection. active support to accessing employment and self- employment opportunities. __________________ 20 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/publicatio ns/reflection-paper-harnessing- globalisation_en.
Amendment 103 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Globalisation and technological change is likely to further increase the interconnectedness and interdependence of world economies. Labour reallocation is an integral and inevitable part of such economic change. If the benefits of change are to be distributed fairly, offering assistance to displaced workers and those threatened by displacement is of utmost importance. The main Union instruments to assist workers affected are the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), which is designed to offer assistance in an anticipatory way, and the EGF, which is designed to offer assistance in the case of major restructuring events in a reactive manner. The ‘EU Quality Framework for anticipation of change and restructuring’22 , is the Union policy instrument that sets the framework of best practice for anticipating and dealing with corporate restructuring. It offers a comprehensive framework on how the challenges of economic adjustment and restructuring and their employment and social impact should be addressed by adequate policy means. It also calls upon Member States to use EU and national funding in a way to ensure that the social impact of restructuring, especially the adverse effects on employment, can be cushioned more effectively. The main Union instruments to assist workers affected are the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), which is designed to offer assistance in an anticipatory way, and the EGF, which is designed to offer assistance in the case of unexpected major restructuring events in a reactive manner. __________________ 22 COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS EU Quality Framework for anticipation of change and restructuring, (COM(2013)882 final, 13.12.2013).
Amendment 110 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) As stated, in order to maintain the European nature of the EGF, an application for support should be triggered when a major restructuring event causes a significant impact on the local or regional economy. Such an impact should be defined by a minimum number of job displacements within a specific reference period. Taking into account the findings of the mid-term evaluation, the threshold shall be set at 250 jobs displacement within a reference period of four months (or 6 months in sectoral cases). Taking into account that waves of dismissals in different sectors but the same region have an equally significant impact on the local labour market, regional applications shall be possible as well. In small labour markets, such as small Member States or remote regions, including the outermost regions as referred in Article 349 of the TFEU, or in exceptional circumstances, applications couldmay be submitted in case of a lower number of job displacements.
Amendment 113 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14 a (new)
Recital 14 a (new)
(14a) While respecting the principle of subsidiarity, and taking into account the need for a significant impact of the restructuring event as a threshold for an EGF application, the EGF should strive to show solidarity with dismissed workers from all types of enterprises, regardless of their size.
Amendment 114 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14 b (new)
Recital 14 b (new)
(14b) The EGF should remain a special EU instrument reacting to situations that cause major restructuring events in the European labour market. However, the Union should continue efforts to find more sustainable ways of tackling the structural change and challenges that affect labour markets and lead to such events in the Member States.
Amendment 124 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) Financial contributions from the EGF should be primarily directed at active labour market measures aimed at reintegrating beneficiaries rapidly into sustainable employment, wheither within or outside their initial sector of activity or self-employment. Measures should reflect the prospectived needs of the local or regional labour market. However, whenever relevant, the mobility of displaced workers should also be supported in order to help find new employment elsewhere. A particular focus shall be laid on the dissemination of skills required in the digital age. The inclusion of pecuniary allowances in a coordinated package of personalised services should be restricted to 25%. Companies cshould be encouraged to participate in the national co-funding for the EGF-supported measures.
Amendment 128 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) When drawing up the coordinated package of active labour market policy measures, Member States should favour measures that will significantly contribute to the employability of the beneficiaries. Member States should strive towards the reintegration into sustainable employment of the largest possible number of beneficiaries participating in these measures as soon as possible within the sixeven-month period before the final report on the implementation of the financial contribution is due.
Amendment 137 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) In compliance with the principle of sound financial management, financial contributions from the EGF should cannot replace but rather should, where possible, complement support measures which are available for beneficiaries within the Union funds or other Union policies or programmes. Nor can the EGF’s financial contribution replace national measures or replace measures that are the responsibility of dismissing companies under national law or collective agreements and should instead create real European added value.
Amendment 144 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 30
Recital 30
(30) In the event of an enterprise closing down, displaced workers may be helped to take over some or all of the activities of their former employer and the Member State in which the enterprise is located may advance the funds that are required urgently to make this possible.
Amendment 147 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 37
Recital 37
(37) Reflecting the importance of tackling climate change in line with the Union's commitments to implement the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, this Programme will contribute to mainstream climate action in the Union's policies and to the achievement of an overall target of 2530 % of the EU budget expenditures supporting climate objectives. Relevant actions will be identified during the fund's preparation and implementation, and reassessed in the context of its evaluation.
Amendment 153 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1
The EGF shall contribute to a bettermore equitable distribution of the benefits of globalisation and technological advance and the promotion of alternative sustainable employment by helping displaced workers adapt to structural change. As such, the EGF shall contribute to the implementation of the principles defined under the European Pillar of Social Rights and enhance social and economic cohesion among regions and Member States.
Amendment 160 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The general objective of the programme is to demonstrate solidarity with and offer support tofinancial support for re- employment measures of displaced workers and self-employed persons whose activity has ceased in the course of unexpected major restructuring events, referred to in Article 5.
Amendment 165 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 2
2. The specific objective of the EGF is to offer assistance in case of unexpectedto workers for reintegration to the labour market in case of major restructuring events, particularly those caused by globalisation-related challenges, such as changes in world trade patterns, trade disputes between the EU and third countries, financial or economic crises, the transition to low- carbon economy or as a consequence of digitisation or automation. Particular emphasis shall liebe placed on measures that help the most disadvantaged groups.
Amendment 167 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) 'displaced worker' means a worker, independent of their type of employment contract or employment relationship, whose employment is ended prematurely by redundancy, or whose contract is not renewed, due to economic reasons;
Amendment 181 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) the cessation of activity of more thanat least 250 displaced workers or self- employed persons, over a reference period of four months, in an enterprise in a Member State, including where that cessation applies in its suppliers or downstream producers;
Amendment 185 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) the cessation of activity of more thanat least 250 displaced workers or self- employed persons, over a reference period of six months, particularly in SMEs, where all operate in the same economic sector defined at NACE Revision 2 division level and located in one region or two contiguous regions defined at NUTS 2 level or in more than two contiguous regions defined at NUTS 2 level provided that there are more thanat least 250 workers or self- employed persons affected in two of the regions combined;
Amendment 189 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) the cessation of activity of more thanat least 250 displaced workers or self- employed persons, over a reference period of foursix months, particularly in SMEs, operating in the same or different economic sectors defined at NACE Revision 2 division level and located in the same region defined at NUTS 2 level.
Amendment 192 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 3
Article 5 – paragraph 3
3. In small labour markets or in exceptional circumstances, in particular with regard to applications involving SMEs, where duly substantiated by the applicant Member State, an application for a financial contribution under this Article may be considered admissible even if the criteria laid down in points (a), (b) or (c) of paragraph 1 are not entirely met, when the redundancies have a serious impact on employment levels and the local or regional or national economy. The applicant Member State shall specify which of the intervention criteria set out in points (a), (b) or (c) of paragraph 1 are not entirely met. The aggregated amount of contributions in exceptional circumstances may not exceed 15 % of the annual ceiling of the EGF.
Amendment 195 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 4
Article 5 – paragraph 4
4. The EGF may not be mobilised when workers are dismissed as a result of budget cuts taken by a Member State, which affect sectors that depend primarily on public financing.
Amendment 197 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 1
1. The applicant Member State shall specify the method used for calculating the number of displaced workers and self- employed persons defined in Article 4 for the purpose of Article 5.
Amendment 203 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
The dissemination of skills required in the digital industrial age is a mandatory horizontal element of any package of personalised training or services offered. The level of training shall be adapted to the qualifications and thespecific needs of the respective beneficiary.
Amendment 208 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3 – point a
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3 – point a
(a) tailor-made training and retraining, including in information and communication technology and other skills that are required in the digital age, certification of acquired experience, job- search assistance, occupational guidance, advisory services, mentoring, outplacement assistance, entrepreneurship promotion, aid for self- employment, business start-ups and employee take-overs, and cooperation activities;
Amendment 210 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3 – point b
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3 – point b
(b) special time-limited measures, such as job-search allowances, employers’ recruitment incentives, mobility allowances, training or subsistence allowances, including allowances for carers accessing the relevant measures.
Amendment 214 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 4
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 4
The costs of the measures referred to in point (b) may not exceed 325 % of the total costs for the coordinated package of personalised services listed in this paragraph.
Amendment 216 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 5
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 5
The investments for self-employment, starting an own business or for employee take-overs may not exceed EUR 205 000 per displaced worker.
Amendment 225 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
The measures supported by the EGF shall not under any circumstances substitute passive social protection measures.
Amendment 226 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3
Article 8 – paragraph 3
3. The coordinated package of services shall be drawn up in consultation with the targeted beneficiaries or their representatives, or and the social partners.
Amendment 229 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2
Article 9 – paragraph 2
2. Within ten working days of the date of submission of the application, or, where applicable, of the date on which the Commission is in possession of the translation of the application, whichever is the later, the Commission shall acknowledge receipt of the application and inform the Member State of any additional information it requires in order to assess the application.
Amendment 234 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 4
Article 9 – paragraph 4
4. On the basis of the information provided by the Member State, the Commission shall complete its assessment of the application’s compliance with the conditions for providing a financial contribution, within 60 working days of the receipt of the complete application or, where applicable, of the translation of the application. Where the Commission is unable, exceptionally, to comply with that deadline, it shall provide to the Member State a written explanation in advance setting out the reasons for the delay.
Amendment 236 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 5 – point b
Article 9 – paragraph 5 – point b
(b) the confirmation that, where the dismissing enterprise has continued its activities after the lay-offs, it has complied with all its legal obligations governing the redundancies and has provided for its workers accordingly;
Amendment 267 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 15 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The Member State may decide to postpone the starting date for the eligible actions by up to three months after the date of submission of the application. In the event of such postponement, the eligible actions shall be carried out within the 24-month period following the starting date communicated by the Member State in the application.
Amendment 270 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 20 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the type of measures and main results, explaining the challenges, lessons learned, synergies and complementarities with other EU funds, particularly ESF+ and indicating, whenever possible, the complementarity of measures with those funded by other Union or national programmes in line with the EU Quality Framework for anticipation of change and restructuring;
Amendment 273 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 20 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) the results of a beneficiary survey conducted six months after the end of the implementation period, which shall cover the perceived change in the employability of beneficiaries, or for those who already found employment, more information on the quality and type of employment found, such as the change in working hours, level of responsibility or change of salary level in comparison to previous employment, and the sector in which the person found employment and break down this information by gender, age group and education level;
Amendment 276 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 3
Article 22 – paragraph 3
3. The evaluations referred to in paragraph 1 shall include relevant statistics on the financial contributions, broken down by sector and Member State.