BETA


2014/2183(BUD) Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: redundancies in the retail sector in Greece

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead BUDG VANA Monika (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE) FERNANDES José Manuel (icon: PPE PPE), GEIER Jens (icon: S&D S&D), JÄÄTTEENMÄKI Anneli (icon: ALDE ALDE), ZANNI Marco (icon: EFDD EFDD)
Committee Opinion EMPL
Committee Opinion REGI
Lead committee dossier:

Events

2015/01/14
   Final act published in Official Journal
Details

PURPOSE: to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to assist Greece following redundancies in its retail sector.

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision (EU) 2015/43 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, in accordance with point 13 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management (application EGF/2014/013 EL/Odyssefs Fokas, from Greece).

CONTENT: with this Decision, the European Parliament and the Council have decided to mobilise the sum of EUR 6 444 000 in commitment and payment appropriations from European Globalisation Adjustment Fund within the framework of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2014.

This amount shall assist Greece in respect of redundancies in Odyssefs Fokas SA in Greece.

Given that this application complies with the requirements for determining the financial contributions as laid down in Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013 (EGF Regulation 2014-2020), the European Parliament and Council have decided to grant the abovementioned amount. Greece has decided to provide personalised services co-financed by the EGF also to young persons not in employment, education or training (NEETs).

To recall, the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund was established 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 addressed in Regulation (EC) No 546/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council, or as a result of a new global financial and economic crisis and to assist them with their reintegration into the labour market.

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

2014/12/16
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2014/12/16
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 610 votes to 77, with 13 abstentions, a resolution on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, to the amount of EUR 6 444 000 in commitment and payment appropriations in order to assist Greece following redundancies in its retail sector.

Parliament recalled that the Union set up legislative and budgetary instruments to provide additional support to workers who are suffering from the consequences of major structural changes in world trade patterns and to assist their reintegration into the labour market.

Greek application : Greece submitted application EGF/2014/013 EL/Odyssefs Fokas on 29 July 2014 following the dismissal of 551 workers in Odyssefs Fokas S.A., an enterprise which operated in the economic sector classified under NACE Rev. 2 division 47 ('Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles').

Parliament welcomed the fact that the Greek authorities take into consideration the great benefits of this budgetary instrument and have already made use of it several times as a means to tackle negative effects of the financial and economic crisis.

It noted that the Greek authorities submitted the application under the intervention criterion of point (a) of Article 4(1) of the EGF Regulation, which requires at least 500 workers being made redundant or self-employed persons' activity ceasing, over a reference period of four months in an enterprise in a Member State, including workers made redundant or self-employed persons' activity ceasing in its suppliers and downstream producers.

Nature of the redundancies : Parliament noted that the redundancies were mainly due to the decrease of available household income ― due to the increase in the tax burden, decreasing salaries and rising unemployment ― resulting in a huge drop of purchasing power and the drastic reduction of loans to enterprises and individuals due to the lack of cash in the Greek banks.

It noted that these redundancies will further aggravate the unemployment situation in a country where during the period 2008-2013 the number of unemployed people increased four-fold and which presents the highest unemployment rates amongst Member States and the fifth highest worldwide . Members are especially concerned about the regions of Attica and Central Macedonia, which concentrate 90% of the redundancies and which already present unemployment rates above the national average of 27.5%.

Dismissed workers : the resolution noted that in addition to the 551 redundancies within the reference period, 49 workers dismissed before the reference period of four months are also included in the number of eligible beneficiaries, which amounts in total to 600 persons. It noted that 89.17% of the redundant workers eligible for EGF support are women.

Members welcomed the fact that the Greek authorities will provide personalised services cofinanced by the EGF for up to 500 young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs) under the age of 30 on the date of submission of the application. The Greek authorities are called upon to provide detailed information on the funded actions and outcomes in view of sharing best practices, especially with regard to the selection of and support provided to NEETs.

Coordinated package of personalised services : Parliament noted that the Greek authorities have indicated that the co-ordinated package of personalised services has been drawn up in consultation with the representatives of the targeted beneficiaries and the Federation of private employees in Greece.

It noted that the personalised services which are to be provided have been designed to take into account the specific needs of NEETs and consist of occupational guidance, training, retraining and vocational training as well as a contribution to business start-up. It also noted that most of the requested funds are to support contribution to business start-ups (EUR 3 000 000) and training measures (EUR 2 960 000).

Lastly, Parliament called on the European Social Fund (ESF) measures planned within the new ESF programming period to complement the EGF plan and to facilitate the worker's reintegration in future-oriented and sustainable economic sectors.

Documents
2014/12/16
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2014/12/15
   CSL - Draft budget approved by Council
2014/12/15
   CSL - Council Meeting
2014/12/11
   EP - Vote in committee
2014/12/11
   EP - Budgetary report tabled for plenary
Details

The Committee on Budgets adopted the report by Monika VANA (Greens/EFA, AT) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, to the amount of EUR 6 444 000 in commitment and payment appropriations in order to assist Greece following redundancies in its retail sector.

Members recalled that the Union set up legislative and budgetary instruments to provide additional support to workers who are suffering from the consequences of major structural changes in world trade patterns and to assist their reintegration into the labour market.

Greek application : Greece submitted application EGF/2014/013 EL/Odyssefs Fokas on 29 July 2014 following the dismissal of 551 workers in Odyssefs Fokas S.A., an enterprise which operated in the economic sector classified under NACE Rev. 2 division 47 ('Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles'). Members noted that the Greek authorities submitted the application under the intervention criterion of point (a) of Article 4(1) of the EGF Regulation, which requires at least 500 workers being made redundant or self-employed persons' activity ceasing, over a reference period of four months in an enterprise in a Member State, including workers made redundant or self-employed persons' activity ceasing in its suppliers and downstream producers.

Members welcomed the fact that, in order to provide workers with speedy assistance, the Greek authorities decided to initiate the implementation of the personalised services to the affected workers on 20 October 2014, ahead of the final decision on granting the EGF support for the proposed coordinated package.

Nature of the redundancies : Members noted that the redundancies were mainly due to the decrease of available household income ― due to the increase in the tax burden, decreasing salaries and rising unemployment ― resulting in a huge drop of purchasing power and the drastic reduction of loans to enterprises and individuals due to the lack of cash in the Greek banks.

They noted that these redundancies will further aggravate the unemployment situation in a country where during the period 2008-2013 the number of unemployed people increased four-fold and which presents the highest unemployment rates amongst Member States and the fifth highest worldwide . Members are especially concerned about the regions of Attica and Central Macedonia, which concentrate 90% of the redundancies and which already present unemployment rates above the national average of 27.5%.

NEET : Members welcomed the fact that the Greek authorities will provide personalised services cofinanced by the EGF for up to 500 young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs) under the age of 30 on the date of submission of the application. They called on the

They called on the Parliament to support the social criteria applied by the Greek authorities to identify the NEETs to be targeted by EGF measures and on the Greek authorities to provide detailed information on the funded actions and outcomes in view of sharing best practices, especially with regard to the selection and support provided to NEETs.

A coordinated package of personalised services : Members noted that the Greek authorities have indicated that the co-ordinated package of personalised services has been drawn up in consultation with the representatives of the targeted beneficiaries and the Federation of private employees in Greece.

They noted that the personalised services which are to be provided have been designed to take into account the specific needs of NEETs and consist of occupational guidance, training, retraining and vocational training as well as a contribution to business start-up.

They also noted that most of the requested funds are to support contribution to business start-ups (EUR 3 000 000) and training measures (EUR 2 960 000).

New EGF : Members welcomed the adoption of the new EGF which reflects the agreement reached between the Parliament and the Council to reintroduce the crisis mobilisation criterion, to increase Union financial contribution to 60% of the total estimated cost of proposed measures, to increase efficiency for the treatment of EGF applications in the Commission and by the Parliament and the Council by shortening time for assessment and approval, to widen eligible actions and beneficiaries by introducing self-employed persons and young people and to finance incentives for setting up own businesses.

Lastly, they called on the European Social Fund (ESF) measures planned within the new ESF programming period to complement the EGF plan and to facilitate the worker's reintegration in future-oriented and sustainable economic sectors.

Documents
2014/12/05
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2014/11/24
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2014/11/18
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2014/11/11
   EC - Non-legislative basic document published
Details

PURPOSE: to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to assist Greece following redundancies in its retail sector.

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council.

CONTENT: Article 12 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 provides that the EGF shall not exceed a maximum annual amount of EUR 150 million (2011 prices) over and above the relevant headings of the financial framework.

The rules applicable to financial contributions from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) are laid down in Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (2014-2020) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1927/2006 (the 'EGF Regulation').

The Commission examined the application for mobilisation of the EGF to assist Greece and concluded the following:

Greece : EGF/2014/013 EL/Odyssefs Fokas : the Greek authorities submitted application EGF/2014/013 EL/Odyssefs Fokas for a financial contribution from the EGF, following redundancies in Odyssefs Fokas S.A. in Greece This authorities submitted their application within deadline of 12 weeks as set out in the Regulation, which expires on 16 December 2014.

In order to establish the link between the redundancies and the global financial and economic crisis addressed in Regulation (EC) No 546/2009, Greece argues that the Greek economy is for the sixth consecutive year (2008-2013) in deep recession. According to ELSTAT, the Greek Statistical Authority, since 2008 the Greek GDP has decreased by 25.7%, public consumption by 21% and private consumption by 32.3% whilst unemployment increased by 20.6%.

Moreover, the decline in GDP has widened the gap between the Greek per capita GDP and the per capita GDP of the EU, cancelling the progress towards economic convergence made by Greece in the 1995-2007 period.

Since 2008, thousands of enterprises have stopped their activities and closed down, making their staff redundant and thousands of self-employed persons have ceased their activities, contributing to the sharp increase of unemployment. An immediate effect of the reduced income has been a decrease in consumption.

According to the ELSTAT report on household income and living conditions, 23% of Greeks were below the poverty threshold in 2012. A majority of respondents have reduced their expenses accordingly, in particular the budget for non-essential items such as clothing and footwear.

To date, the retail sector has been the subject of another three EGF applications also based on the global financial and economic crisis.

The application relates to 600 workers made redundant in Odyssefs Fokas S.A., an enterprise which operated in the economic sector classified under NACE Rev. 2 division 47 ('Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles'). The redundancies are mainly located in the NUTS level 2 regions of Κεντρική Μακεδονία (Central Macedonia) (EL12), Aττική (Attica) (EL30) and Θεσσαλία (Thessaly) (EL14).

The Greek authorities submitted the application under the intervention criteria of Article 4(1)(a) of the EGF Regulation, which requires at least 500 workers being made redundant or self-employed persons' activity ceasing, over a reference period of four months in an enterprise in a Member State, including workers made redundant and self-employed persons' activity ceasing in its suppliers and downstream producers.

The application relates to 551 workers made redundant in Odyssefs Fokas during the reference period of four months running from 3 February 2014 to 3 June 2014.

Following its assessment of this application, the Commission has concluded, in accordance with all applicable provisions of the EGF Regulation, that the conditions for awarding a financial contribution from the EGF are met.

On the basis of the application from Greece, the proposed contribution from the EGF to the coordinated package of personalised services is EUR 6 444 000.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATION: having examined the application in respect of the conditions set out in Article 13(1) of the EGF Regulation, and having taken into account the number of targeted beneficiaries, the proposed actions and the estimated costs, the Commission proposes to mobilise the EGF for the amount of EUR 6 444 000, representing 60 % of the total costs of the proposed actions, in order to provide a financial contribution for the application.

The proposed decision to mobilise the EGF will be taken jointly by the European Parliament and the Council, as laid down in point 13 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management.

At the same time as it presents this proposal for a decision to mobilise the EGF, the Commission will present to the European Parliament and to the Council a proposal for a transfer to the relevant budgetary line for the requested amount.

At the same time as it adopts this proposal for a decision to mobilise the EGF, the Commission will adopt a decision on a financial contribution, by means of an implementing act, which will enter into force on the date at which the European Parliament and the Council adopt the proposed decision to mobilise the EGF.

2014/11/11
   EP - VANA Monika (Verts/ALE) appointed as rapporteur in BUDG

Documents

Activities

Votes

A8-0063/2014 - Monika Vana - Vote unique #

2014/12/16 Outcome: +: 610, -: 77, 0: 13
FR IT DE ES PL RO PT BE HU AT EL NL BG CZ SE LT HR FI IE SK SI LV CY LU EE MT DK GB
Total
70
65
93
50
50
29
20
19
19
18
18
26
15
19
17
9
11
13
8
13
7
8
6
5
5
5
12
69
icon: PPE PPE
201

Sweden PPE

For (1)

1
2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1
icon: S&D S&D
179

Greece S&D

2

Netherlands S&D

3

Croatia S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

For (1)

1

Latvia S&D

1

Cyprus S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1

Malta S&D

3
icon: ALDE ALDE
66

Romania ALDE

3

Austria ALDE

For (1)

1

Croatia ALDE

2

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Slovenia ALDE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

3

Denmark ALDE

2

United Kingdom ALDE

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
47

Belgium Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Hungary Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

Lithuania Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Croatia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Slovenia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
48

Netherlands GUE/NGL

3

Czechia GUE/NGL

2

Sweden GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Ireland GUE/NGL

3

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Denmark GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

1
icon: NI NI
50

Germany NI

For (1)

1

Belgium NI

For (1)

1

Hungary NI

2

Netherlands NI

4

Latvia NI

1

United Kingdom NI

Against (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
65

Greece ECR

For (1)

1

Netherlands ECR

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Bulgaria ECR

Against (1)

1

Czechia ECR

2

Lithuania ECR

1

Croatia ECR

Against (1)

1

Finland ECR

2

Slovakia ECR

Abstain (1)

3

Latvia ECR

Abstain (1)

1
icon: EFDD EFDD
43

France EFDD

Against (1)

1

Poland EFDD

1

Czechia EFDD

Against (1)

1

Sweden EFDD

2
AmendmentsDossier
9 2014/2183(BUD)
2014/12/04 BUDG 9 amendments...
source: 544.280

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

committees/0/shadows/3
name
NÍ RIADA Liadh
group
European United Left - Nordic Green Left
abbr
GUE/NGL
docs/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE541.646
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/BUDG-PR-541646_EN.html
docs/1/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE544.280
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/BUDG-AM-544280_EN.html
events/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/registre/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2014/0702/COM_COM(2014)0702_EN.pdf
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2014/0702/COM_COM(2014)0702_EN.pdf
events/1/type
Old
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
New
Committee referral announced in Parliament
events/2/type
Old
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
New
Vote in committee
events/3
date
2014-12-11T00:00:00
type
Budgetary report tabled for plenary
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-8-2014-0063_EN.html title: A8-0063/2014
summary
events/3
date
2014-12-11T00:00:00
type
Budgetary report tabled for plenary, 1st reading
body
EP
docs
url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-8-2014-0063_EN.html title: A8-0063/2014
summary
events/6
date
2014-12-16T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2014-0082_EN.html title: T8-0082/2014
summary
events/6
date
2014-12-16T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
docs
url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2014-0082_EN.html title: T8-0082/2014
summary
procedure/Modified legal basis
Rules of Procedure EP 159
procedure/Other legal basis
Rules of Procedure EP 159
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Budgets
committee
BUDG
rapporteur
name: VANA Monika date: 2014-11-11T00:00:00 group: Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE
shadows
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Budgets
committee
BUDG
date
2014-11-11T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: VANA Monika group: Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE
shadows
events/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2014/0702/COM_COM(2014)0702_EN.pdf
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/registre/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2014/0702/COM_COM(2014)0702_EN.pdf
events/3/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2014-0063&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-8-2014-0063_EN.html
events/6/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2014-0082
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2014-0082_EN.html
events/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/registre/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2014/0702/COM_COM(2014)0702_EN.pdf
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2014/0702/COM_COM(2014)0702_EN.pdf
activities
  • date: 2014-11-11T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2014/0702/COM_COM(2014)0702_EN.pdf title: COM(2014)0702 type: Non-legislative basic document published celexid: CELEX:52014PC0702:EN body: EC commission: DG: url: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/budget/ title: Budget Commissioner: GEORGIEVA Kristalina type: Non-legislative basic document published
  • date: 2014-11-24T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP shadows: group: EPP name: FERNANDES José Manuel group: S&D name: GEIER Jens group: ALDE name: JÄÄTTEENMÄKI Anneli group: GUE/NGL name: NÍ RIADA Liadh group: EFD name: ZANNI Marco responsible: True committee: BUDG date: 2014-11-11T00:00:00 committee_full: Budgets rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: VANA Monika body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Employment and Social Affairs committee: EMPL body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Regional Development committee: REGI
  • date: 2014-12-11T00:00:00 body: EP type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP shadows: group: EPP name: FERNANDES José Manuel group: S&D name: GEIER Jens group: ALDE name: JÄÄTTEENMÄKI Anneli group: GUE/NGL name: NÍ RIADA Liadh group: EFD name: ZANNI Marco responsible: True committee: BUDG date: 2014-11-11T00:00:00 committee_full: Budgets rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: VANA Monika body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Employment and Social Affairs committee: EMPL body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Regional Development committee: REGI docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2014-0063&language=EN type: Budgetary report tabled for plenary, 1st reading title: A8-0063/2014
  • date: 2014-12-15T00:00:00 body: CSL type: Council Meeting council: Agriculture and Fisheries meeting_id: 3360
  • date: 2014-12-16T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=25043&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2014-0082 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T8-0082/2014 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2015-01-14T00:00:00 type: Final act published in Official Journal docs: url: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32015D0043 title: Decision 2015/43 url: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L:2015:008:TOC title: OJ L 008 14.01.2015, p. 0016
commission
  • body: EC dg: Budget commissioner: GEORGIEVA Kristalina
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Budgets
committee
BUDG
date
2014-11-11T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: VANA Monika group: Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE
shadows
committees/0
body
EP
shadows
responsible
True
committee
BUDG
date
2014-11-11T00:00:00
committee_full
Budgets
rapporteur
group: Verts/ALE name: VANA Monika
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Employment and Social Affairs
committee
EMPL
opinion
False
committees/1
body
EP
responsible
False
committee_full
Employment and Social Affairs
committee
EMPL
committees/2
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Regional Development
committee
REGI
opinion
False
committees/2
body
EP
responsible
False
committee_full
Regional Development
committee
REGI
council
  • body: CSL type: Council Meeting council: Agriculture and Fisheries meeting_id: 3360 url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=SMPL&ROWSPP=25&RESULTSET=1&NRROWS=500&DOC_LANCD=EN&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC&CONTENTS=3360*&MEET_DATE=15/12/2014 date: 2014-12-15T00:00:00
docs
  • date: 2014-11-18T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE541.646 title: PE541.646 type: Committee draft report body: EP
  • date: 2014-12-05T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE544.280 title: PE544.280 type: Amendments tabled in committee body: EP
events
  • date: 2014-11-11T00:00:00 type: Non-legislative basic document published body: EC docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/registre/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2014/0702/COM_COM(2014)0702_EN.pdf title: COM(2014)0702 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!DocNumber&lg=EN&type_doc=COMfinal&an_doc=2014&nu_doc=0702 title: EUR-Lex summary: PURPOSE: to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to assist Greece following redundancies in its retail sector. PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council. CONTENT: Article 12 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 provides that the EGF shall not exceed a maximum annual amount of EUR 150 million (2011 prices) over and above the relevant headings of the financial framework. The rules applicable to financial contributions from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) are laid down in Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (2014-2020) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1927/2006 (the 'EGF Regulation'). The Commission examined the application for mobilisation of the EGF to assist Greece and concluded the following: Greece : EGF/2014/013 EL/Odyssefs Fokas : the Greek authorities submitted application EGF/2014/013 EL/Odyssefs Fokas for a financial contribution from the EGF, following redundancies in Odyssefs Fokas S.A. in Greece This authorities submitted their application within deadline of 12 weeks as set out in the Regulation, which expires on 16 December 2014. In order to establish the link between the redundancies and the global financial and economic crisis addressed in Regulation (EC) No 546/2009, Greece argues that the Greek economy is for the sixth consecutive year (2008-2013) in deep recession. According to ELSTAT, the Greek Statistical Authority, since 2008 the Greek GDP has decreased by 25.7%, public consumption by 21% and private consumption by 32.3% whilst unemployment increased by 20.6%. Moreover, the decline in GDP has widened the gap between the Greek per capita GDP and the per capita GDP of the EU, cancelling the progress towards economic convergence made by Greece in the 1995-2007 period. Since 2008, thousands of enterprises have stopped their activities and closed down, making their staff redundant and thousands of self-employed persons have ceased their activities, contributing to the sharp increase of unemployment. An immediate effect of the reduced income has been a decrease in consumption. According to the ELSTAT report on household income and living conditions, 23% of Greeks were below the poverty threshold in 2012. A majority of respondents have reduced their expenses accordingly, in particular the budget for non-essential items such as clothing and footwear. To date, the retail sector has been the subject of another three EGF applications also based on the global financial and economic crisis. The application relates to 600 workers made redundant in Odyssefs Fokas S.A., an enterprise which operated in the economic sector classified under NACE Rev. 2 division 47 ('Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles'). The redundancies are mainly located in the NUTS level 2 regions of Κεντρική Μακεδονία (Central Macedonia) (EL12), Aττική (Attica) (EL30) and Θεσσαλία (Thessaly) (EL14). The Greek authorities submitted the application under the intervention criteria of Article 4(1)(a) of the EGF Regulation, which requires at least 500 workers being made redundant or self-employed persons' activity ceasing, over a reference period of four months in an enterprise in a Member State, including workers made redundant and self-employed persons' activity ceasing in its suppliers and downstream producers. The application relates to 551 workers made redundant in Odyssefs Fokas during the reference period of four months running from 3 February 2014 to 3 June 2014. Following its assessment of this application, the Commission has concluded, in accordance with all applicable provisions of the EGF Regulation, that the conditions for awarding a financial contribution from the EGF are met. On the basis of the application from Greece, the proposed contribution from the EGF to the coordinated package of personalised services is EUR 6 444 000. FINANCIAL IMPLICATION: having examined the application in respect of the conditions set out in Article 13(1) of the EGF Regulation, and having taken into account the number of targeted beneficiaries, the proposed actions and the estimated costs, the Commission proposes to mobilise the EGF for the amount of EUR 6 444 000, representing 60 % of the total costs of the proposed actions, in order to provide a financial contribution for the application. The proposed decision to mobilise the EGF will be taken jointly by the European Parliament and the Council, as laid down in point 13 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management. At the same time as it presents this proposal for a decision to mobilise the EGF, the Commission will present to the European Parliament and to the Council a proposal for a transfer to the relevant budgetary line for the requested amount. At the same time as it adopts this proposal for a decision to mobilise the EGF, the Commission will adopt a decision on a financial contribution, by means of an implementing act, which will enter into force on the date at which the European Parliament and the Council adopt the proposed decision to mobilise the EGF.
  • date: 2014-11-24T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2014-12-11T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2014-12-11T00:00:00 type: Budgetary report tabled for plenary, 1st reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2014-0063&language=EN title: A8-0063/2014 summary: The Committee on Budgets adopted the report by Monika VANA (Greens/EFA, AT) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, to the amount of EUR 6 444 000 in commitment and payment appropriations in order to assist Greece following redundancies in its retail sector. Members recalled that the Union set up legislative and budgetary instruments to provide additional support to workers who are suffering from the consequences of major structural changes in world trade patterns and to assist their reintegration into the labour market. Greek application : Greece submitted application EGF/2014/013 EL/Odyssefs Fokas on 29 July 2014 following the dismissal of 551 workers in Odyssefs Fokas S.A., an enterprise which operated in the economic sector classified under NACE Rev. 2 division 47 ('Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles'). Members noted that the Greek authorities submitted the application under the intervention criterion of point (a) of Article 4(1) of the EGF Regulation, which requires at least 500 workers being made redundant or self-employed persons' activity ceasing, over a reference period of four months in an enterprise in a Member State, including workers made redundant or self-employed persons' activity ceasing in its suppliers and downstream producers. Members welcomed the fact that, in order to provide workers with speedy assistance, the Greek authorities decided to initiate the implementation of the personalised services to the affected workers on 20 October 2014, ahead of the final decision on granting the EGF support for the proposed coordinated package. Nature of the redundancies : Members noted that the redundancies were mainly due to the decrease of available household income ― due to the increase in the tax burden, decreasing salaries and rising unemployment ― resulting in a huge drop of purchasing power and the drastic reduction of loans to enterprises and individuals due to the lack of cash in the Greek banks. They noted that these redundancies will further aggravate the unemployment situation in a country where during the period 2008-2013 the number of unemployed people increased four-fold and which presents the highest unemployment rates amongst Member States and the fifth highest worldwide . Members are especially concerned about the regions of Attica and Central Macedonia, which concentrate 90% of the redundancies and which already present unemployment rates above the national average of 27.5%. NEET : Members welcomed the fact that the Greek authorities will provide personalised services cofinanced by the EGF for up to 500 young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs) under the age of 30 on the date of submission of the application. They called on the They called on the Parliament to support the social criteria applied by the Greek authorities to identify the NEETs to be targeted by EGF measures and on the Greek authorities to provide detailed information on the funded actions and outcomes in view of sharing best practices, especially with regard to the selection and support provided to NEETs. A coordinated package of personalised services : Members noted that the Greek authorities have indicated that the co-ordinated package of personalised services has been drawn up in consultation with the representatives of the targeted beneficiaries and the Federation of private employees in Greece. They noted that the personalised services which are to be provided have been designed to take into account the specific needs of NEETs and consist of occupational guidance, training, retraining and vocational training as well as a contribution to business start-up. They also noted that most of the requested funds are to support contribution to business start-ups (EUR 3 000 000) and training measures (EUR 2 960 000). New EGF : Members welcomed the adoption of the new EGF which reflects the agreement reached between the Parliament and the Council to reintroduce the crisis mobilisation criterion, to increase Union financial contribution to 60% of the total estimated cost of proposed measures, to increase efficiency for the treatment of EGF applications in the Commission and by the Parliament and the Council by shortening time for assessment and approval, to widen eligible actions and beneficiaries by introducing self-employed persons and young people and to finance incentives for setting up own businesses. Lastly, they called on the European Social Fund (ESF) measures planned within the new ESF programming period to complement the EGF plan and to facilitate the worker's reintegration in future-oriented and sustainable economic sectors.
  • date: 2014-12-15T00:00:00 type: Draft budget approved by Council body: CSL
  • date: 2014-12-16T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=25043&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2014-12-16T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2014-0082 title: T8-0082/2014 summary: The European Parliament adopted by 610 votes to 77, with 13 abstentions, a resolution on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, to the amount of EUR 6 444 000 in commitment and payment appropriations in order to assist Greece following redundancies in its retail sector. Parliament recalled that the Union set up legislative and budgetary instruments to provide additional support to workers who are suffering from the consequences of major structural changes in world trade patterns and to assist their reintegration into the labour market. Greek application : Greece submitted application EGF/2014/013 EL/Odyssefs Fokas on 29 July 2014 following the dismissal of 551 workers in Odyssefs Fokas S.A., an enterprise which operated in the economic sector classified under NACE Rev. 2 division 47 ('Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles'). Parliament welcomed the fact that the Greek authorities take into consideration the great benefits of this budgetary instrument and have already made use of it several times as a means to tackle negative effects of the financial and economic crisis. It noted that the Greek authorities submitted the application under the intervention criterion of point (a) of Article 4(1) of the EGF Regulation, which requires at least 500 workers being made redundant or self-employed persons' activity ceasing, over a reference period of four months in an enterprise in a Member State, including workers made redundant or self-employed persons' activity ceasing in its suppliers and downstream producers. Nature of the redundancies : Parliament noted that the redundancies were mainly due to the decrease of available household income ― due to the increase in the tax burden, decreasing salaries and rising unemployment ― resulting in a huge drop of purchasing power and the drastic reduction of loans to enterprises and individuals due to the lack of cash in the Greek banks. It noted that these redundancies will further aggravate the unemployment situation in a country where during the period 2008-2013 the number of unemployed people increased four-fold and which presents the highest unemployment rates amongst Member States and the fifth highest worldwide . Members are especially concerned about the regions of Attica and Central Macedonia, which concentrate 90% of the redundancies and which already present unemployment rates above the national average of 27.5%. Dismissed workers : the resolution noted that in addition to the 551 redundancies within the reference period, 49 workers dismissed before the reference period of four months are also included in the number of eligible beneficiaries, which amounts in total to 600 persons. It noted that 89.17% of the redundant workers eligible for EGF support are women. Members welcomed the fact that the Greek authorities will provide personalised services cofinanced by the EGF for up to 500 young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs) under the age of 30 on the date of submission of the application. The Greek authorities are called upon to provide detailed information on the funded actions and outcomes in view of sharing best practices, especially with regard to the selection of and support provided to NEETs. Coordinated package of personalised services : Parliament noted that the Greek authorities have indicated that the co-ordinated package of personalised services has been drawn up in consultation with the representatives of the targeted beneficiaries and the Federation of private employees in Greece. It noted that the personalised services which are to be provided have been designed to take into account the specific needs of NEETs and consist of occupational guidance, training, retraining and vocational training as well as a contribution to business start-up. It also noted that most of the requested funds are to support contribution to business start-ups (EUR 3 000 000) and training measures (EUR 2 960 000). Lastly, Parliament called on the European Social Fund (ESF) measures planned within the new ESF programming period to complement the EGF plan and to facilitate the worker's reintegration in future-oriented and sustainable economic sectors.
  • date: 2014-12-16T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
  • date: 2015-01-14T00:00:00 type: Final act published in Official Journal summary: PURPOSE: to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to assist Greece following redundancies in its retail sector. NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision (EU) 2015/43 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, in accordance with point 13 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management (application EGF/2014/013 EL/Odyssefs Fokas, from Greece). CONTENT: with this Decision, the European Parliament and the Council have decided to mobilise the sum of EUR 6 444 000 in commitment and payment appropriations from European Globalisation Adjustment Fund within the framework of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2014. This amount shall assist Greece in respect of redundancies in Odyssefs Fokas SA in Greece. Given that this application complies with the requirements for determining the financial contributions as laid down in Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013 (EGF Regulation 2014-2020), the European Parliament and Council have decided to grant the abovementioned amount. Greece has decided to provide personalised services co-financed by the EGF also to young persons not in employment, education or training (NEETs). To recall, the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund was established 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 addressed in Regulation (EC) No 546/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council, or as a result of a new global financial and economic crisis and to assist them with their reintegration into the labour market. Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 provides that the EGF shall not exceed a maximum annual amount of EUR 150 million . docs: title: Decision 2015/43 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32015D0043 title: OJ L 008 14.01.2015, p. 0016 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L:2015:008:TOC
links
other
  • body: EC dg: url: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/budget/ title: Budget commissioner: GEORGIEVA Kristalina
procedure/Modified legal basis
Old
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 150
New
Rules of Procedure EP 159
procedure/dossier_of_the_committee
Old
BUDG/8/01985
New
  • BUDG/8/01985
procedure/final/url
Old
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32015D0043
New
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32015D0043
procedure/subject
Old
  • 3.40.17 Manufactured goods
  • 4.15.05 Industrial restructuring, job losses, redundancies, relocations, Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF)
  • 8.70.54 2014 budget
New
3.40.17
Manufactured goods
4.15.05
Industrial restructuring, job losses, redundancies, relocations, Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF)
8.70.60
Previous annual budgets
activities/0/docs/0/celexid
CELEX:52014PC0702:EN
activities/0/docs/0/celexid
CELEX:52014PC0702:EN
activities/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/registre/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2014/0702/COM_COM(2014)0702_EN.pdf
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2014/0702/COM_COM(2014)0702_EN.pdf
activities/1/committees/0/shadows/1
group
S&D
name
GEIER Jens
activities/2/committees/0/shadows/1
group
S&D
name
GEIER Jens
activities/4/docs/0
url
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=25043&l=en
type
Results of vote in Parliament
title
Results of vote in Parliament
activities/4/type
Old
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
New
Results of vote in Parliament
activities/5/text
  • PURPOSE: to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to assist Greece following redundancies in its retail sector.

    NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision (EU) 2015/43 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, in accordance with point 13 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management (application EGF/2014/013 EL/Odyssefs Fokas, from Greece).

    CONTENT: with this Decision, the European Parliament and the Council have decided to mobilise the sum of EUR 6 444 000 in commitment and payment appropriations from European Globalisation Adjustment Fund within the framework of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2014.

    This amount shall assist Greece in respect of redundancies in Odyssefs Fokas SA in Greece.

    Given that this application complies with the requirements for determining the financial contributions as laid down in Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013 (EGF Regulation 2014-2020), the European Parliament and Council have decided to grant the abovementioned amount. Greece has decided to provide personalised services co-financed by the EGF also to young persons not in employment, education or training (NEETs).

    To recall, the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund was established 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 addressed in Regulation (EC) No 546/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council, or as a result of a new global financial and economic crisis and to assist them with their reintegration into the labour market.

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

committees/0/shadows/1
group
S&D
name
GEIER Jens
procedure/subject/1
Old
4.15.05 Industrial restructuring, job losses, redundancies, relocations
New
4.15.05 Industrial restructuring, job losses, redundancies, relocations, Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF)
activities/5
date
2015-01-14T00:00:00
docs
type
Final act published in Official Journal
procedure/final
url
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32015D0043
title
Decision 2015/43
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Procedure completed, awaiting publication in Official Journal
New
Procedure completed
activities/4/docs/0/text
  • The European Parliament adopted by 610 votes to 77, with 13 abstentions, a resolution on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, to the amount of EUR 6 444 000 in commitment and payment appropriations in order to assist Greece following redundancies in its retail sector.

    Parliament recalled that the Union set up legislative and budgetary instruments to provide additional support to workers who are suffering from the consequences of major structural changes in world trade patterns and to assist their reintegration into the labour market.

    Greek application: Greece submitted application EGF/2014/013 EL/Odyssefs Fokas on 29 July 2014 following the dismissal of 551 workers in Odyssefs Fokas S.A., an enterprise which operated in the economic sector classified under NACE Rev. 2 division 47 ('Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles').

    Parliament welcomed the fact that the Greek authorities take into consideration the great benefits of this budgetary instrument and have already made use of it several times as a means to tackle negative effects of the financial and economic crisis.

    It noted that the Greek authorities submitted the application under the intervention criterion of point (a) of Article 4(1) of the EGF Regulation, which requires at least 500 workers being made redundant or self-employed persons' activity ceasing, over a reference period of four months in an enterprise in a Member State, including workers made redundant or self-employed persons' activity ceasing in its suppliers and downstream producers.

    Nature of the redundancies: Parliament noted that the redundancies were mainly due to the decrease of available household income ― due to the increase in the tax burden, decreasing salaries and rising unemployment ― resulting in a huge drop of purchasing power and the drastic reduction of loans to enterprises and individuals due to the lack of cash in the Greek banks.

    It noted that these redundancies will further aggravate the unemployment situation in a country where during the period 2008-2013 the number of unemployed people increased four-fold and which presents the highest unemployment rates amongst Member States and the fifth highest worldwide. Members are especially concerned about the regions of Attica and Central Macedonia, which concentrate 90% of the redundancies and which already present unemployment rates above the national average of 27.5%.

    Dismissed workers: the resolution noted that in addition to the 551 redundancies within the reference period, 49 workers dismissed before the reference period of four months are also included in the number of eligible beneficiaries, which amounts in total to 600 persons. It noted that 89.17% of the redundant workers eligible for EGF support are women.

    Members welcomed the fact that the Greek authorities will provide personalised services cofinanced by the EGF for up to 500 young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs) under the age of 30 on the date of submission of the application. The Greek authorities are called upon to provide detailed information on the funded actions and outcomes in view of sharing best practices, especially with regard to the selection of and support provided to NEETs.

    Coordinated package of personalised services: Parliament noted that the Greek authorities have indicated that the co-ordinated package of personalised services has been drawn up in consultation with the representatives of the targeted beneficiaries and the Federation of private employees in Greece.

    It noted that the personalised services which are to be provided have been designed to take into account the specific needs of NEETs and consist of occupational guidance, training, retraining and vocational training as well as a contribution to business start-up. It also noted that most of the requested funds are to support contribution to business start-ups (EUR 3 000 000) and training measures (EUR 2 960 000).

    Lastly, Parliament called on the European Social Fund (ESF) measures planned within the new ESF programming period to complement the EGF plan and to facilitate the worker's reintegration in future-oriented and sustainable economic sectors.

activities/4/docs
  • url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2014-0082 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T8-0082/2014
activities/4/type
Old
Vote in plenary scheduled
New
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Awaiting Parliament 1st reading / single reading / budget 1st stage
New
Procedure completed, awaiting publication in Official Journal
activities/3
date
2014-12-15T00:00:00
body
CSL
type
Council Meeting
council
Agriculture and Fisheries
meeting_id
3360
activities/2/docs/0/text
  • The Committee on Budgets adopted the report by Monika VANA (Greens/EFA, AT) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, to the amount of EUR 6 444 000 in commitment and payment appropriations in order to assist Greece following redundancies in its retail sector.

    Members recalled that the Union set up legislative and budgetary instruments to provide additional support to workers who are suffering from the consequences of major structural changes in world trade patterns and to assist their reintegration into the labour market.

    Greek application: Greece submitted application EGF/2014/013 EL/Odyssefs Fokas on 29 July 2014 following the dismissal of 551 workers in Odyssefs Fokas S.A., an enterprise which operated in the economic sector classified under NACE Rev. 2 division 47 ('Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles'). Members noted that the Greek authorities submitted the application under the intervention criterion of point (a) of Article 4(1) of the EGF Regulation, which requires at least 500 workers being made redundant or self-employed persons' activity ceasing, over a reference period of four months in an enterprise in a Member State, including workers made redundant or self-employed persons' activity ceasing in its suppliers and downstream producers.

    Members welcomed the fact that, in order to provide workers with speedy assistance, the Greek authorities decided to initiate the implementation of the personalised services to the affected workers on 20 October 2014, ahead of the final decision on granting the EGF support for the proposed coordinated package.

    Nature of the redundancies: Members noted that the redundancies were mainly due to the decrease of available household income ― due to the increase in the tax burden, decreasing salaries and rising unemployment ― resulting in a huge drop of purchasing power and the drastic reduction of loans to enterprises and individuals due to the lack of cash in the Greek banks.

    They noted that these redundancies will further aggravate the unemployment situation in a country where during the period 2008-2013 the number of unemployed people increased four-fold and which presents the highest unemployment rates amongst Member States and the fifth highest worldwide. Members are especially concerned about the regions of Attica and Central Macedonia, which concentrate 90% of the redundancies and which already present unemployment rates above the national average of 27.5%.

    NEET: Members welcomed the fact that the Greek authorities will provide personalised services cofinanced by the EGF for up to 500 young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs) under the age of 30 on the date of submission of the application. They called on the

    They called on the Parliament to support the social criteria applied by the Greek authorities to identify the NEETs to be targeted by EGF measures and on the Greek authorities to provide detailed information on the funded actions and outcomes in view of sharing best practices, especially with regard to the selection and support provided to NEETs.

    A coordinated package of personalised services: Members noted that the Greek authorities have indicated that the co-ordinated package of personalised services has been drawn up in consultation with the representatives of the targeted beneficiaries and the Federation of private employees in Greece.

    They noted that the personalised services which are to be provided have been designed to take into account the specific needs of NEETs and consist of occupational guidance, training, retraining and vocational training as well as a contribution to business start-up.

    They also noted that most of the requested funds are to support contribution to business start-ups (EUR 3 000 000) and training measures (EUR 2 960 000).

    New EGF: Members welcomed the adoption of the new EGF which reflects the agreement reached between the Parliament and the Council to reintroduce the crisis mobilisation criterion, to increase Union financial contribution to 60% of the total estimated cost of proposed measures, to increase efficiency for the treatment of EGF applications in the Commission and by the Parliament and the Council by shortening time for assessment and approval, to widen eligible actions and beneficiaries by introducing self-employed persons and young people and to finance incentives for setting up own businesses.

    Lastly, they called on the European Social Fund (ESF) measures planned within the new ESF programming period to complement the EGF plan and to facilitate the worker's reintegration in future-oriented and sustainable economic sectors.

activities/2/docs
  • url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2014-0063&language=EN type: Budgetary report tabled for plenary, 1st reading title: A8-0063/2014
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Awaiting committee decision
New
Awaiting Parliament 1st reading / single reading / budget 1st stage
activities/2
date
2014-12-11T00:00:00
body
EP
type
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
committees
procedure/Modified legal basis
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 150
activities/0/commission/0
DG
Commissioner
GEORGIEVA Kristalina
other/0
body
EC
dg
commissioner
GEORGIEVA Kristalina
activities/1/committees/0/shadows
  • group: EPP name: FERNANDES José Manuel
  • group: ALDE name: JÄÄTTEENMÄKI Anneli
  • group: GUE/NGL name: NÍ RIADA Liadh
  • group: EFD name: ZANNI Marco
committees/0/shadows
  • group: EPP name: FERNANDES José Manuel
  • group: ALDE name: JÄÄTTEENMÄKI Anneli
  • group: GUE/NGL name: NÍ RIADA Liadh
  • group: EFD name: ZANNI Marco
activities/0/docs/0/text/0
Old
New

PURPOSE: to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to assist Greece following redundancies in its retail sector.

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council.

CONTENT: Article 12 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 provides that the EGF shall not exceed a maximum annual amount of EUR 150 million (2011 prices) over and above the relevant headings of the financial framework.

The rules applicable to financial contributions from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) are laid down in Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (2014-2020) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1927/2006 (the 'EGF Regulation').

The Commission examined the application for mobilisation of the EGF to assist Greece and concluded the following:

Greece: EGF/2014/013 EL/Odyssefs Fokas: the Greek authorities submitted application EGF/2014/013 EL/Odyssefs Fokas for a financial contribution from the EGF, following redundancies in Odyssefs Fokas S.A. in Greece This authorities submitted their application within deadline of 12 weeks as set out in the Regulation, which expires on 16 December 2014.

In order to establish the link between the redundancies and the global financial and economic crisis addressed in Regulation (EC) No 546/2009, Greece argues that the Greek economy is for the sixth consecutive year (2008-2013) in deep recession. According to ELSTAT, the Greek Statistical Authority, since 2008 the Greek GDP has decreased by 25.7%, public consumption by 21% and private consumption by 32.3% whilst unemployment increased by 20.6%.

Moreover, the decline in GDP has widened the gap between the Greek per capita GDP and the per capita GDP of the EU, cancelling the progress towards economic convergence made by Greece in the 1995-2007 period.

Since 2008, thousands of enterprises have stopped their activities and closed down, making their staff redundant and thousands of self-employed persons have ceased their activities, contributing to the sharp increase of unemployment. An immediate effect of the reduced income has been a decrease in consumption.

According to the ELSTAT report on household income and living conditions, 23% of Greeks were below the poverty threshold in 2012. A majority of respondents have reduced their expenses accordingly, in particular the budget for non-essential items such as clothing and footwear.

To date, the retail sector has been the subject of another three EGF applications also based on the global financial and economic crisis.

The application relates to 600 workers made redundant in Odyssefs Fokas S.A., an enterprise which operated in the economic sector classified under NACE Rev. 2 division 47 ('Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles'). The redundancies are mainly located in the NUTS level 2 regions of Κεντρική Μακεδονία (Central Macedonia) (EL12), Aττική (Attica) (EL30) and Θεσσαλία (Thessaly) (EL14).

The Greek authorities submitted the application under the intervention criteria of Article 4(1)(a) of the EGF Regulation, which requires at least 500 workers being made redundant or self-employed persons' activity ceasing, over a reference period of four months in an enterprise in a Member State, including workers made redundant and self-employed persons' activity ceasing in its suppliers and downstream producers.

The application relates to 551 workers made redundant in Odyssefs Fokas during the reference period of four months running from 3 February 2014 to 3 June 2014.

Following its assessment of this application, the Commission has concluded, in accordance with all applicable provisions of the EGF Regulation, that the conditions for awarding a financial contribution from the EGF are met.

On the basis of the application from Greece, the proposed contribution from the EGF to the coordinated package of personalised services is EUR 6 444 000.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATION: having examined the application in respect of the conditions set out in Article 13(1) of the EGF Regulation, and having taken into account the number of targeted beneficiaries, the proposed actions and the estimated costs, the Commission proposes to mobilise the EGF for the amount of EUR 6 444 000, representing 60 % of the total costs of the proposed actions, in order to provide a financial contribution for the application.

The proposed decision to mobilise the EGF will be taken jointly by the European Parliament and the Council, as laid down in point 13 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management.

At the same time as it presents this proposal for a decision to mobilise the EGF, the Commission will present to the European Parliament and to the Council a proposal for a transfer to the relevant budgetary line for the requested amount.

At the same time as it adopts this proposal for a decision to mobilise the EGF, the Commission will adopt a decision on a financial contribution, by means of an implementing act, which will enter into force on the date at which the European Parliament and the Council adopt the proposed decision to mobilise the EGF.

activities/0/docs/0/text
activities/2/date
Old
2014-12-17T00:00:00
New
2014-12-16T00:00:00
activities/2/type
Old
Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
New
Vote in plenary scheduled
activities/1
date
2014-11-24T00:00:00
body
EP
type
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
committees
procedure/dossier_of_the_committee
BUDG/8/01985
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Preparatory phase in Parliament
New
Awaiting committee decision
activities
  • date: 2014-11-11T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/registre/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2014/0702/COM_COM(2014)0702_EN.pdf celexid: CELEX:52014PC0702:EN type: Non-legislative basic document published title: COM(2014)0702 body: EC commission: type: Non-legislative basic document published
  • date: 2014-12-17T00:00:00 body: EP type: Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
committees
  • body: EP responsible: True committee: BUDG date: 2014-11-11T00:00:00 committee_full: Budgets rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: VANA Monika
  • body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Employment and Social Affairs committee: EMPL
  • body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Regional Development committee: REGI
links
other
    procedure
    reference
    2014/2183(BUD)
    title
    Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: redundancies in the retail sector in Greece
    geographical_area
    Greece
    stage_reached
    Preparatory phase in Parliament
    subtype
    Mobilisation of funds
    type
    BUD - Budgetary procedure
    subject