{"change_dates":[],"dossier":{"amendments":[{"authors":"Victor Negrescu","changes":{},"committee":["BUDG"],"date":"2015-02-16T00:00:00","id":"PE549.297-1","location":[["Motion for a resolution","Paragraph 3"]],"meps":[88882],"meta":{"created":"2019-07-03T06:08:38"},"new":["3. Expresses concerns about the length of","the procedure from the date of the first","redundancies until the assessment of the","application; recalls that the goal of EGF is","to offer help to redundant workers as","quickly as possible; emphasises that the","EGF application was submitted on the","27th of September 2013 thus by the time it","reaches voting in the Budget Committee","almost one year and a half would have","passed;"],"old":["3. Expresses concerns about the length of","the procedure from the date of the first","redundancies until the assessment of the","application; recalls that the goal of EGF is","to offer help to redundant workers as","quickly as possible;"],"orig_lang":"en","peid":"PE549.297v01.00","reference":"2015/2019(BUD)","seq":"1","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/BUDG-AM-549297_EN.pdf"},{"authors":"Victor Negrescu","changes":{},"committee":["BUDG"],"date":"2015-02-16T00:00:00","id":"PE549.297-2","location":[["Motion for a resolution","Paragraph 4"]],"meps":[88882],"meta":{"created":"2019-07-03T06:08:38"},"new":["4. Welcomes the fact that, in order to","provide workers with speedy assistance,","the Belgian authorities decided to initiate","the implementation of the personalised","services to the affected workers on 1 June","2013, well ahead of the decision and even","the application on granting the EGF","support for the proposed coordinated","package; these personalised services","already offered will be eligible for EGF","funding;"],"old":["4. Welcomes the fact that, in order to","provide workers with speedy assistance,","the Belgian authorities decided to initiate","the implementation of the personalised","services to the affected workers on 1 June","2013, well ahead of the decision and even","the application on granting the EGF","support for the proposed coordinated","package;"],"orig_lang":"en","peid":"PE549.297v01.00","reference":"2015/2019(BUD)","seq":"2","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/BUDG-AM-549297_EN.pdf"},{"authors":" Victor Negrescu","changes":{},"committee":["BUDG"],"date":"2015-02-16T00:00:00","id":"PE549.297-3","location":[[" Motion for a resolution","Paragraph 7"]],"meps":[88882],"meta":{"created":"2019-07-03T06:08:38"},"new":["7. Notes that this is the fifth EGF","application in the steel sector, out of which","three were based on globalisation and one","on the global financial and economic crisis;","urges the Commission to identify broader","and common solutions to tackle","unemployment in this sector;"],"old":["7. Notes that this is the fifth EGF","application in the steel sector, out of which","three were based on globalisation and one","on the global financial and economic crisis;"],"orig_lang":"en","peid":"PE549.297v01.00","reference":"2015/2019(BUD)","seq":"3","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/BUDG-AM-549297_EN.pdf"},{"authors":" Marita Ulvskog on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs","changes":{},"committee":["BUDG"],"date":"2015-02-16T00:00:00","id":"PE549.297-4","location":[[" Motion for a resolution","Paragraph 10 a (new)"]],"meps":[96672],"meta":{"created":"2019-07-03T06:08:38"},"new":["10a. Notes that more than half of the total","estimated costs are to be spent on","redeployment services, namely support,","guidance and integration measures; notes","that these services will be provided by","FOREM (the public employment and","training service of the Walloon Region),","which acts as an intermediary body in the","implementation of this application;"],"orig_lang":"en","peid":"PE549.297v01.00","reference":"2015/2019(BUD)","seq":"4","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/BUDG-AM-549297_EN.pdf"},{"authors":" Victor Negrescu","changes":{},"committee":["BUDG"],"date":"2015-02-16T00:00:00","id":"PE549.297-5","location":[[" Motion for a resolution","Paragraph 12"]],"meps":[88882],"meta":{"created":"2019-07-03T06:08:38"},"new":["12. Recalls the importance of improving","the employability of all workers by means","of adapted training and the recognition of","skills and competences gained throughout a","worker's professional career; expects the","training on offer in the coordinated","package to be adapted not only to the needs","of the dismissed workers but also to the","actual business environment, and the","potential of the area."],"old":["12. Recalls the importance of improving","the employability of all workers by means","of adapted training and the recognition of","skills and competences gained throughout a","worker's professional career; expects the","training on offer in the coordinated","package to be adapted not only to the needs","of the dismissed workers but also to the","actual business environment;"],"orig_lang":"en","peid":"PE549.297v01.00","reference":"2015/2019(BUD)","seq":"5","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/BUDG-AM-549297_EN.pdf"},{"authors":"Marita Ulvskog on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs","changes":{},"committee":["BUDG"],"date":"2015-02-16T00:00:00","id":"PE549.297-6","location":[["Motion for a resolution","Paragraph 12 a (new)"]],"meps":[96672],"meta":{"created":"2019-07-03T06:08:38"},"new":["12a. Notes that, in the context of the","economic situation in the region and the","number of redundancies in the","metallurgic industry in the region, in","order to find a new job in the region, the","workers from Duferco and NLMK will","have to retrain to find jobs in other","occupations and other sectors;"],"orig_lang":"en","peid":"PE549.297v01.00","reference":"2015/2019(BUD)","seq":"6","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/BUDG-AM-549297_EN.pdf"},{"authors":"Marita Ulvskog on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs","changes":{},"committee":["BUDG"],"date":"2015-02-16T00:00:00","id":"PE549.297-7","location":[["Motion for a resolution","Paragraph 12 b (new)"]],"meps":[96672],"meta":{"created":"2019-07-03T06:08:38"},"new":["12b.Welcomes that proposed measures are","specified and targeted to various need of","training and retraining;"],"orig_lang":"en","peid":"PE549.297v01.00","reference":"2015/2019(BUD)","seq":"7","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/BUDG-AM-549297_EN.pdf"},{"authors":" Marita Ulvskog on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs","changes":{},"committee":["BUDG"],"date":"2015-02-16T00:00:00","id":"PE549.297-8","location":[[" Motion for a resolution","Paragraph 12 c (new)"]],"meps":[96672],"meta":{"created":"2019-07-03T06:08:39"},"new":["12c. Notes that the proposed measures","also target a group of managers of the","companies concerned;"],"orig_lang":"en","peid":"PE549.297v01.00","reference":"2015/2019(BUD)","seq":"8","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/BUDG-AM-549297_EN.pdf"},{"authors":" Marita Ulvskog on behalf of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs","changes":{},"committee":["BUDG"],"date":"2015-02-16T00:00:00","id":"PE549.297-9","location":[[" Motion for a resolution","Paragraph 14 a (new)"]],"meps":[96672],"meta":{"created":"2019-07-03T06:08:39"},"new":["14a. Notes that measures which are","mandatory under collective redundancy","procedures in Belgium and which are","carried out as part of the standard","activities of the Redeployment Units (e.g.","outplacement support, training, job-","search assistance and careers advice, etc.)","are not included in this EGF application;"],"orig_lang":"en","peid":"PE549.297v01.00","reference":"2015/2019(BUD)","seq":"9","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/BUDG-AM-549297_EN.pdf"}],"changes":{"2015-01-27T01:47:18":[{"data":[{"body":"EC","commission":[{"Commissioner":"GEORGIEVA Kristalina","DG":{"title":"Budget","url":"http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/budget/"}}],"date":"2014-12-09T00:00:00","docs":[{"title":"COM(2014)0725","type":"Non-legislative basic document published","url":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/registre/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2014/0725/COM_COM(2014)0725_EN.pdf"}],"type":"Non-legislative basic document published"}],"path":["activities"],"type":"added"},{"data":[{"body":"EC","commissioner":"GEORGIEVA Kristalina","dg":{"title":"Budget","url":"http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/budget/"}}],"path":["other"],"type":"added"},{"data":[{"body":"EP","committee":"BUDG","committee_full":"Budgets","date":"2015-01-14T00:00:00","rapporteur":[{"group":"EPP","mepref":"51d21272b819f23b5b000006","name":"PLENKOVI\u0106 Andrej"}],"responsible":true},{"body":"EP","committee":"EMPL","committee_full":"Employment and Social Affairs","responsible":false},{"body":"EP","committee":"REGI","committee_full":"Regional Development","responsible":false}],"path":["committees"],"type":"added"},{"data":{},"path":["links"],"type":"added"},{"data":{"geographical_area":["Belgium"],"reference":"2015/2019(BUD)","stage_reached":"Preparatory phase in Parliament","subject":["3.40.02 Iron and steel industry, metallurgical industry","4.15.05 Industrial restructuring, job losses, redundancies, relocations","8.70.55 2015 budget"],"subtype":"Mobilisation of funds","title":"Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: redundancies in the steel sector in\u00a0Belgium","type":"BUD - Budgetary procedure"},"path":["procedure"],"type":"added"}],"2015-01-29T02:26:40":[{"data":{"body":"EP","date":"2015-03-10T00:00:00","type":"Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading"},"path":["activities",1],"type":"added"}],"2015-01-31T02:23:59":[{"data":{"body":"EP","committees":[{"body":"EP","committee":"BUDG","committee_full":"Budgets","date":"2015-01-14T00:00:00","rapporteur":[{"group":"EPP","mepref":"51d21272b819f23b5b000006","name":"PLENKOVI\u0106 Andrej"}],"responsible":true,"shadows":[{"group":"S&D","mepref":"4f1ac82bb819f25efd0000cf","name":"GARDIAZABAL RUBIAL Eider"},{"group":"ALDE","mepref":"4f1ac940b819f25efd000122","name":"J\u00c4\u00c4TTEENM\u00c4KI Anneli"},{"group":"GUE/NGL","mepref":"53b2de42b819f205b00000e8","name":"N\u00cd RIADA Liadh"},{"group":"Verts/ALE","mepref":"53ba825bb819f24b330001ab","name":"VANA Monika"},{"group":"EFD","mepref":"53ba83bfb819f24b330001d1","name":"ZANNI Marco"}]},{"body":"EP","committee":"EMPL","committee_full":"Employment and Social Affairs","responsible":false},{"body":"EP","committee":"REGI","committee_full":"Regional Development","responsible":false}],"date":"2015-01-28T00:00:00","type":"Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading"},"path":["activities",1],"type":"added"},{"data":[{"group":"S&D","mepref":"4f1ac82bb819f25efd0000cf","name":"GARDIAZABAL RUBIAL Eider"},{"group":"ALDE","mepref":"4f1ac940b819f25efd000122","name":"J\u00c4\u00c4TTEENM\u00c4KI Anneli"},{"group":"GUE/NGL","mepref":"53b2de42b819f205b00000e8","name":"N\u00cd RIADA Liadh"},{"group":"Verts/ALE","mepref":"53ba825bb819f24b330001ab","name":"VANA Monika"},{"group":"EFD","mepref":"53ba83bfb819f24b330001d1","name":"ZANNI Marco"}],"path":["committees",0,"shadows"],"type":"added"},{"data":"BUDG/8/02467","path":["procedure","dossier_of_the_committee"],"type":"added"},{"data":["Preparatory phase in Parliament","Awaiting committee decision"],"path":["procedure","stage_reached"],"type":"changed"}],"2015-03-12T23:06:42":[{"data":["Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading","Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading"],"path":["activities",5,"type"],"type":"changed"},{"data":[{"title":"T8-0043/2015","type":"Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading","url":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2015-0043"}],"path":["activities",5,"docs"],"type":"added"},{"data":["
PURPOSE: to mobilise the European Globalisation\nAdjustment Fund (EGF) to assist Belgium following redundancies in\nits steel sector.
\nPROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and\nof the Council.
\nCONTENT: Article 12 of Council Regulation (EU,\nEuratom) No 1311/2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the\nyears 2014-2020 provides that the EGF shall not\nexceed a maximum annual amount of EUR 150 million (2011\nprices) over and above the relevant headings of the financial\nframework.
\nThe rules applicable to financial contributions from\nthe European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) are laid down\nRegulation (EC) No 1927/2006\nof the European Parliament and of the Council on the European\nGlobalisation Adjustment Fund.
\nOn 27 September 2013, Belgium submitted application\nEGF/2013/007 BE/Hainaut steel (Duferco-NLMK) for a financial\ncontribution from the EGF, following redundancies linked to the\nclosure of Duferco Belgium SA (Duferco) and to staff\nreductions at NLMK La Louvière SA (NLMK) which are\nboth located in La Louvière.
\nIn this context, the Commission examined the\napplication for mobilisation of the EGF to assist Belgium and\nconcluded the following:
\nBelgium:\nEGF/2013/007 BE/Hainaut steel (Duferco-NLMK): on 27 September 2013,\nBelgium submitted the application. It was supplemented by\nadditional information up to 4 July 2014.
\nIn order to establish the link between the\nredundancies and major structural changes in world trade patterns\ndue to globalisation, the Belgian authorities argue that the sector\nof the production of steel has undergone serious economic\ndisruption, in particular a rapid decline of the EUs market\nshare. According to data referred to by the Belgian authorities,\nbetween 2006 and 2011, the production of crude steel in the EU-27\ndecreased from 206.9 million tonnes to 177.7 million tonnes\n(− 14.1 %; − 3.0 % annual growth), whereas, at\nworldwide level, production increased from 1 249.0 million tonnes\nto 1 518.3 million tonnes (+ 21.6 %; + 4.0 % annual growth). This\nhas led to a decrease of the EU-27s market share in the\nproduction of crude steel, measured in volume terms, from 16.6 % in\n2006 to 11.7 % in 2011 (− 29.4 %; − 6.7 % annual\ngrowth).
\nBy comparison, during the same period, Chinas\nmarket share increased from 33.7 % to 45.0 % (+ 33.6 %; + 6.0 %\nannual growth), whereas the market shares of the five other largest\nproducers (which account together for around 25 % to 30 % of\nworldwide production) either decreased, although to a lesser extent\nthan for the EU-27 (Japan, USA, Russia), or increased moderately\n(South Korea, India). These data therefore show a rapid decline of\nthe EUs market share in the sector of the production of crude\nsteel at worldwide level.
\nThe effects of these changes in trade patterns have\nbeen worsened by other factors such as a decrease in demand in\nsteel in the automotive and construction sectors in the EU as a\nconsequence of the economic crisis and a relative increase of\nproduction costs (raw materials, energy, environmental constraints,\netc.). These factors have harmed the competiveness of the EUs\nsteel industry and have led to a high number of job losses in the\nsteel sector in recent years due to plant closures and\nrestructuring by several steel manufacturers in Europe. For\ninstance, between 2008 and 2013, the number of persons employed in\nthe metallurgic industry (NACE Rev. 2 division 24 Manufacture\nof basic metals) in the EU-27 decreased by around 280 000\nfrom 1.44 million to 1.16 million (− 19.4 %).
\nSince the start of the EGF in 2007, there have been\nfour EGF applications in the steel sector.
\nBelgium introduced its application under the\nintervention criteria of Article 2(b) of the EGF Regulation, which\nrequires at least 500 redundancies over a period of nine months in\nenterprises operating in the same economic sector defined at NACE\nRev. 2 division level and located in one region or two contiguous\nregions defined at NUTS 2 level in a Member State.
\nThe application relates to 708 redundancies made\nduring a period of nine months from 22 January 2013 to 22 October\n2013 (which includes 381 redundancies at Duferco and 327\nredundancies at NLMK). Duferco and NLMK are located in the same\nNUTS level 2 region (BE32 Prov. Hainaut) and operate in the same\nsector of economic activity (NACE Rev. 2 division 24\nManufacture of basic metals).
\nOn the basis of the application from Belgium, the\nproposed contribution from the EGF to the coordinated package of\npersonalised services is EUR 981 956, representing 50% of\nthe total cost.
\nFINANCIAL IMPLICATION: considering the maximum\npossible amount of a financial contribution from the EGF, as well\nas the scope for reallocating appropriations, the Commission\nproposes to mobilise the EGF for the total amount referred to\nabove.
\nThe proposed decision to mobilise the EGF will be\ntaken jointly by the European Parliament and the Council, as laid\ndown in point 13 of the Interinstitutional Agreement\nof 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and\nthe Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary\nmatters and on sound financial management.
\nThe Commission presents separately a transfer request\nin order to enter in the 2015 budget specific commitment\nappropriations, as required in Point 13 of the Interinstitutional\nAgreement of 2 December 2013.
\nThe Committee on Budgets adopted\nthe report by Andrej PLENKOVIĆ (EPP, HR) on the proposal for a\ndecision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the\nmobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for an\namount of EUR 981 956 in commitment and payment\nappropriations to assist Belgium affected by redundancies in its\nsteel sector.
\nMembers recalled that the Union\nset up legislative and budgetary instruments to provide additional\nsupport to workers who are suffering from the consequences of major\nstructural changes in world trade patterns and to assist their\nreintegration into the labour market.
\nBelgian\napplication: Belgium submitted\napplication EGF/2013/007 BE/Hainaut steel for a financial\ncontribution from the EGF following 708 redundancies in two\ncompanies, linked to the closure of Duferco and to staff reductions\nat NLMK, operating in the NACE 2 Division 24 'Manufacturing of\nbasic metals', and both located in La Louvière in the Hainaut\nregion. The redundancies took place during the reference period\nfrom 22 January 2013 to 22 October 2013 and are linked to a decline\nof the Union's market share in in the sector of steel\nproduction.
\nMembers noted that the\nconditions set out in Article 2(b) of the EGF Regulation are met.\nTherefore, Belgium is entitled to a financial contribution under\nthat Regulation.
\nMembers welcomed the fact that,\nin order to provide workers with speedy assistance, the Belgian\nauthorities decided to initiate the implementation of the\npersonalised services to the affected workers on 1 June 2013, well\nahead of the decision and even the application on granting the EGF\nsupport for the proposed coordinated package.
\nNature of the\nredundancies: Members considered that\nthe redundancies at Duferco and NLMK are expected to have a\nnegative impact on the Hainaut region, a former coal-mining and\nsteelmaking area in which employment is strongly dependant on\ntraditional heavy industry and on the public sector, where in 2012\nthe unemployment rate was 17.7%, compared to 15.8% on average in\nWallonia and 11.2% at national level and peaked at 39% for the\npersons aged from 18 to 25. Members highlighted that the low level\nof qualification of jobseekers (51% do not have higher secondary\neducation, compared to 47% in Wallonia) is an additional difficulty\nfor the job search.
\nA package of personalised\nservices: Members noted that the\ncoordinated package of personalised services to be co-funded\nincludes following measures for the reintegration of 701 redundant\nworkers into employment (grouped by category): (1) individual\njob-search assistance, case management and general information\nservices, (2) training and retraining and (3) promotion of\nentrepreneurship.
\nMembers also noted that, in the\ncontext of the economic situation and the number of redundancies in\nthe metallurgic industry in the region, in order to find a new job\nin that region, the workers from Duferco and NLMK will have to\nretrain to find jobs in other occupations and other sectors. They\nstated that the proposed measures also target a group of managers\nof the companies concerned. They recalled the importance of\nimproving the employability of all workers by means of adapted\ntraining and the recognition of skills and competences gained\nthroughout a worker's professional career.
\nLastly, they also stressed that\nEGF assistance can co-finance only active labour market measures\nwhich lead to durable, long-term employment.
\nThe European Parliament adopted by 534 votes to 77,\nwith 12 abstentions, a resolution on the proposal for a decision of\nthe European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of\nthe European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for an amount of EUR\n981 956 in commitment and payment appropriations to assist\nBelgium affected by redundancies in its steel sector.
\nParliament recalled that the Union set up legislative\nand budgetary instruments to provide additional support to workers\nwho are suffering from the consequences of major structural changes\nin world trade patterns and to assist their reintegration into the\nlabour market.
\nBelgian application: Belgium submitted application EGF/2013/007\nBE/Hainaut steel for a financial contribution from the EGF\nfollowing 708 redundancies in two companies, linked to the closure\nof Duferco and to staff reductions at NLMK, operating in the NACE 2\nDivision 24 'Manufacturing of basic metals', and both located in La\nLouvière in the Hainaut region. The redundancies took place\nduring the reference period from 22 January 2013 to 22 October 2013\nand are linked to a decline of the Union's market share in in the\nsector of steel production.
\nParliament noted that the conditions set out in\nArticle 2(b) of the EGF Regulation are met. Therefore, Belgium\nis entitled to a financial contribution under that\nRegulation.
\nIt also welcomed the fact that, in order to provide\nworkers with speedy assistance, the Belgian authorities decided to\ninitiate the implementation of the personalised services to the\naffected workers on 1 June 2013, well ahead of the decision and\neven the application on granting the EGF support for the proposed\ncoordinated package.
\nNature of the redundancies: Parliament considered that the redundancies in\nDuferco and NLMK are linked to major structural changes in world\ntrade patterns due to globalisation, given that the steel\nproduction sector has undergone serious economic disruption, in\nparticular a rapid decline in the EUs market share.\nFuthermore, as a consequence of the economic crisis and a relative\nincrease in production costs, world trade patterns were worsened by\nother factors such as a decline in demand for steel in the\nautomotive and construction sector.
\nIt also considered that the redundancies are expected\nto have a negative impact on the Hainaut region, a former\ncoal-mining and steelmaking area in which employment is strongly\ndependant on traditional heavy industry and on the public sector,\nwhere in 2012 the unemployment rate was 17.7%, compared to 15.8% on\naverage in Wallonia and 11.2% at national level and peaked at 39%\nfor the persons aged from 18 to 25. Members highlighted that the\nlow level of qualification of jobseekers (51% do not have higher\nsecondary education, compared to 47% in Wallonia) is an additional\ndifficulty for the job search. Overall, Parliament noted that, in\nthe context of the economic situation and the number of\nredundancies in the metallurgic industry in the region, in order to\nfind a new job in that region, the workers from Duferco and NLMK\nwill have to retrain to find jobs in other occupations and other\nsectors. It stated that the proposed measures also target a group\nof managers of the companies concerned
\nA package of personalised services: Parliament stressed that the coordinated package of\npersonalised services to be co-funded includes following measures\nfor the reintegration of 701 redundant workers into employment\n(grouped by category): (1) individual job-search assistance, case\nmanagement and general information services, (2) training and\nretraining and (3) promotion of entrepreneurship.
\nIt recalled the importance of improving the\nemployability of all workers by means of adapted training and the\nrecognition of skills and competences gained throughout a worker's\nprofessional career. It also stressed that EGF assistance can\nco-finance only active labour market measures which lead to\ndurable, long-term employment.
\nLastly, Parliament noted that measures which are\nmandatory under collective redundancy procedures in Belgium and\nwhich are carried out as part of the standard activities of the\nRedeployment Units (e.g. outplacement support, training, job-search\nassistance and careers advice, etc.) are not included in this EGF\napplication. More than half of the total estimated costs are to be\nspent on redeployment services, namely support, guidance and\nintegration measures.
\nPURPOSE: to mobilise the\nEuropean Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to assist Belgium\nfollowing redundancies in its steel sector.
\nNON-LEGISLATIVE ACT:\nDecision (EU) 2015/468 of the European Parliament and of the\nCouncil on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation\nAdjustment Fund in accordance with Point 13 of the\nInterinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the\nEuropean Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary\ndiscipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound\nfinancial management (application EGF/2013/007 BE/Hainaut steel\n(Duferco-NLMK), from Belgium).
\nCONTENT: with this\nDecision, the European Parliament and the Council have decided to\nmobilise the sum of EUR 981 956 in commitment and payment\nappropriations from European Globalisation Adjustment Fund within\nthe framework of the general budget of the European Union for the\nfinancial year 2015.
\nThis amount shall assist\nBelgium in respect of redundancies in the enterprises Duferco\nBelgium SA and NLMK La Louvière SA.
\nThis application\ncomplies with the requirements for determining the financial\ncontributions as laid down in Regulation\n(EC) No 1927/2006 (EGF Regulation) which remains applicable,\nnotwithstanding its repeal, for all applications submitted before\n31 December 2013.
\nTo recall, the European\nGlobalisation Adjustment Fund was established to provide additional\nsupport for workers made redundant as a result of major structural\nchanges in world trade patterns due to globalisation and to assist\nthem with their reintegration into the labour market.
\nRegulation\n(EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 laying down the multiannual financial\nframework for the years 2014-2020 provides that the EGF shall not\nexceed a maximum annual amount of EUR 150\nmillion.
\nENTRY INTO FORCE:\n11.03.2015.
\nPURPOSE: to mobilise the European Globalisation\nAdjustment Fund (EGF) to assist Belgium following redundancies in\nits steel sector.
\nPROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and\nof the Council.
\nCONTENT: Article 12 of Council Regulation (EU,\nEuratom) No 1311/2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the\nyears 2014-2020 provides that the EGF shall not\nexceed a maximum annual amount of EUR 150 million (2011\nprices) over and above the relevant headings of the financial\nframework.
\nThe rules applicable to financial contributions from\nthe European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) are laid down\nRegulation (EC) No 1927/2006\nof the European Parliament and of the Council on the European\nGlobalisation Adjustment Fund.
\nOn 27 September 2013, Belgium submitted application\nEGF/2013/007 BE/Hainaut steel (Duferco-NLMK) for a financial\ncontribution from the EGF, following redundancies linked to the\nclosure of Duferco Belgium SA (Duferco) and to staff\nreductions at NLMK La Louvière SA (NLMK) which are\nboth located in La Louvière.
\nIn this context, the Commission examined the\napplication for mobilisation of the EGF to assist Belgium and\nconcluded the following:
\nBelgium:\nEGF/2013/007 BE/Hainaut steel (Duferco-NLMK): on 27 September 2013,\nBelgium submitted the application. It was supplemented by\nadditional information up to 4 July 2014.
\nIn order to establish the link between the\nredundancies and major structural changes in world trade patterns\ndue to globalisation, the Belgian authorities argue that the sector\nof the production of steel has undergone serious economic\ndisruption, in particular a rapid decline of the EUs market\nshare. According to data referred to by the Belgian authorities,\nbetween 2006 and 2011, the production of crude steel in the EU-27\ndecreased from 206.9 million tonnes to 177.7 million tonnes\n(− 14.1 %; − 3.0 % annual growth), whereas, at\nworldwide level, production increased from 1 249.0 million tonnes\nto 1 518.3 million tonnes (+ 21.6 %; + 4.0 % annual growth). This\nhas led to a decrease of the EU-27s market share in the\nproduction of crude steel, measured in volume terms, from 16.6 % in\n2006 to 11.7 % in 2011 (− 29.4 %; − 6.7 % annual\ngrowth).
\nBy comparison, during the same period, Chinas\nmarket share increased from 33.7 % to 45.0 % (+ 33.6 %; + 6.0 %\nannual growth), whereas the market shares of the five other largest\nproducers (which account together for around 25 % to 30 % of\nworldwide production) either decreased, although to a lesser extent\nthan for the EU-27 (Japan, USA, Russia), or increased moderately\n(South Korea, India). These data therefore show a rapid decline of\nthe EUs market share in the sector of the production of crude\nsteel at worldwide level.
\nThe effects of these changes in trade patterns have\nbeen worsened by other factors such as a decrease in demand in\nsteel in the automotive and construction sectors in the EU as a\nconsequence of the economic crisis and a relative increase of\nproduction costs (raw materials, energy, environmental constraints,\netc.). These factors have harmed the competiveness of the EUs\nsteel industry and have led to a high number of job losses in the\nsteel sector in recent years due to plant closures and\nrestructuring by several steel manufacturers in Europe. For\ninstance, between 2008 and 2013, the number of persons employed in\nthe metallurgic industry (NACE Rev. 2 division 24 Manufacture\nof basic metals) in the EU-27 decreased by around 280 000\nfrom 1.44 million to 1.16 million (− 19.4 %).
\nSince the start of the EGF in 2007, there have been\nfour EGF applications in the steel sector.
\nBelgium introduced its application under the\nintervention criteria of Article 2(b) of the EGF Regulation, which\nrequires at least 500 redundancies over a period of nine months in\nenterprises operating in the same economic sector defined at NACE\nRev. 2 division level and located in one region or two contiguous\nregions defined at NUTS 2 level in a Member State.
\nThe application relates to 708 redundancies made\nduring a period of nine months from 22 January 2013 to 22 October\n2013 (which includes 381 redundancies at Duferco and 327\nredundancies at NLMK). Duferco and NLMK are located in the same\nNUTS level 2 region (BE32 Prov. Hainaut) and operate in the same\nsector of economic activity (NACE Rev. 2 division 24\nManufacture of basic metals).
\nOn the basis of the application from Belgium, the\nproposed contribution from the EGF to the coordinated package of\npersonalised services is EUR 981 956, representing 50% of\nthe total cost.
\nFINANCIAL IMPLICATION: considering the maximum\npossible amount of a financial contribution from the EGF, as well\nas the scope for reallocating appropriations, the Commission\nproposes to mobilise the EGF for the total amount referred to\nabove.
\nThe proposed decision to mobilise the EGF will be\ntaken jointly by the European Parliament and the Council, as laid\ndown in point 13 of the Interinstitutional Agreement\nof 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and\nthe Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary\nmatters and on sound financial management.
\nThe Commission presents separately a transfer request\nin order to enter in the 2015 budget specific commitment\nappropriations, as required in Point 13 of the Interinstitutional\nAgreement of 2 December 2013.
\nThe Committee on Budgets adopted\nthe report by Andrej PLENKOVIĆ (EPP, HR) on the proposal for a\ndecision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the\nmobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for an\namount of EUR 981 956 in commitment and payment\nappropriations to assist Belgium affected by redundancies in its\nsteel sector.
\nMembers recalled that the Union\nset up legislative and budgetary instruments to provide additional\nsupport to workers who are suffering from the consequences of major\nstructural changes in world trade patterns and to assist their\nreintegration into the labour market.
\nBelgian\napplication: Belgium submitted\napplication EGF/2013/007 BE/Hainaut steel for a financial\ncontribution from the EGF following 708 redundancies in two\ncompanies, linked to the closure of Duferco and to staff reductions\nat NLMK, operating in the NACE 2 Division 24 'Manufacturing of\nbasic metals', and both located in La Louvière in the Hainaut\nregion. The redundancies took place during the reference period\nfrom 22 January 2013 to 22 October 2013 and are linked to a decline\nof the Union's market share in in the sector of steel\nproduction.
\nMembers noted that the\nconditions set out in Article 2(b) of the EGF Regulation are met.\nTherefore, Belgium is entitled to a financial contribution under\nthat Regulation.
\nMembers welcomed the fact that,\nin order to provide workers with speedy assistance, the Belgian\nauthorities decided to initiate the implementation of the\npersonalised services to the affected workers on 1 June 2013, well\nahead of the decision and even the application on granting the EGF\nsupport for the proposed coordinated package.
\nNature of the\nredundancies: Members considered that\nthe redundancies at Duferco and NLMK are expected to have a\nnegative impact on the Hainaut region, a former coal-mining and\nsteelmaking area in which employment is strongly dependant on\ntraditional heavy industry and on the public sector, where in 2012\nthe unemployment rate was 17.7%, compared to 15.8% on average in\nWallonia and 11.2% at national level and peaked at 39% for the\npersons aged from 18 to 25. Members highlighted that the low level\nof qualification of jobseekers (51% do not have higher secondary\neducation, compared to 47% in Wallonia) is an additional difficulty\nfor the job search.
\nA package of personalised\nservices: Members noted that the\ncoordinated package of personalised services to be co-funded\nincludes following measures for the reintegration of 701 redundant\nworkers into employment (grouped by category): (1) individual\njob-search assistance, case management and general information\nservices, (2) training and retraining and (3) promotion of\nentrepreneurship.
\nMembers also noted that, in the\ncontext of the economic situation and the number of redundancies in\nthe metallurgic industry in the region, in order to find a new job\nin that region, the workers from Duferco and NLMK will have to\nretrain to find jobs in other occupations and other sectors. They\nstated that the proposed measures also target a group of managers\nof the companies concerned. They recalled the importance of\nimproving the employability of all workers by means of adapted\ntraining and the recognition of skills and competences gained\nthroughout a worker's professional career.
\nLastly, they also stressed that\nEGF assistance can co-finance only active labour market measures\nwhich lead to durable, long-term employment.
\nThe European Parliament adopted by 534 votes to 77,\nwith 12 abstentions, a resolution on the proposal for a decision of\nthe European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of\nthe European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for an amount of EUR\n981 956 in commitment and payment appropriations to assist\nBelgium affected by redundancies in its steel sector.
\nParliament recalled that the Union set up legislative\nand budgetary instruments to provide additional support to workers\nwho are suffering from the consequences of major structural changes\nin world trade patterns and to assist their reintegration into the\nlabour market.
\nBelgian application: Belgium submitted application EGF/2013/007\nBE/Hainaut steel for a financial contribution from the EGF\nfollowing 708 redundancies in two companies, linked to the closure\nof Duferco and to staff reductions at NLMK, operating in the NACE 2\nDivision 24 'Manufacturing of basic metals', and both located in La\nLouvière in the Hainaut region. The redundancies took place\nduring the reference period from 22 January 2013 to 22 October 2013\nand are linked to a decline of the Union's market share in in the\nsector of steel production.
\nParliament noted that the conditions set out in\nArticle 2(b) of the EGF Regulation are met. Therefore, Belgium\nis entitled to a financial contribution under that\nRegulation.
\nIt also welcomed the fact that, in order to provide\nworkers with speedy assistance, the Belgian authorities decided to\ninitiate the implementation of the personalised services to the\naffected workers on 1 June 2013, well ahead of the decision and\neven the application on granting the EGF support for the proposed\ncoordinated package.
\nNature of the redundancies: Parliament considered that the redundancies in\nDuferco and NLMK are linked to major structural changes in world\ntrade patterns due to globalisation, given that the steel\nproduction sector has undergone serious economic disruption, in\nparticular a rapid decline in the EUs market share.\nFuthermore, as a consequence of the economic crisis and a relative\nincrease in production costs, world trade patterns were worsened by\nother factors such as a decline in demand for steel in the\nautomotive and construction sector.
\nIt also considered that the redundancies are expected\nto have a negative impact on the Hainaut region, a former\ncoal-mining and steelmaking area in which employment is strongly\ndependant on traditional heavy industry and on the public sector,\nwhere in 2012 the unemployment rate was 17.7%, compared to 15.8% on\naverage in Wallonia and 11.2% at national level and peaked at 39%\nfor the persons aged from 18 to 25. Members highlighted that the\nlow level of qualification of jobseekers (51% do not have higher\nsecondary education, compared to 47% in Wallonia) is an additional\ndifficulty for the job search. Overall, Parliament noted that, in\nthe context of the economic situation and the number of\nredundancies in the metallurgic industry in the region, in order to\nfind a new job in that region, the workers from Duferco and NLMK\nwill have to retrain to find jobs in other occupations and other\nsectors. It stated that the proposed measures also target a group\nof managers of the companies concerned
\nA package of personalised services: Parliament stressed that the coordinated package of\npersonalised services to be co-funded includes following measures\nfor the reintegration of 701 redundant workers into employment\n(grouped by category): (1) individual job-search assistance, case\nmanagement and general information services, (2) training and\nretraining and (3) promotion of entrepreneurship.
\nIt recalled the importance of improving the\nemployability of all workers by means of adapted training and the\nrecognition of skills and competences gained throughout a worker's\nprofessional career. It also stressed that EGF assistance can\nco-finance only active labour market measures which lead to\ndurable, long-term employment.
\nLastly, Parliament noted that measures which are\nmandatory under collective redundancy procedures in Belgium and\nwhich are carried out as part of the standard activities of the\nRedeployment Units (e.g. outplacement support, training, job-search\nassistance and careers advice, etc.) are not included in this EGF\napplication. More than half of the total estimated costs are to be\nspent on redeployment services, namely support, guidance and\nintegration measures.
\nPURPOSE: to mobilise the\nEuropean Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to assist Belgium\nfollowing redundancies in its steel sector.
\nNON-LEGISLATIVE ACT:\nDecision (EU) 2015/468 of the European Parliament and of the\nCouncil on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation\nAdjustment Fund in accordance with Point 13 of the\nInterinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the\nEuropean Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary\ndiscipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound\nfinancial management (application EGF/2013/007 BE/Hainaut steel\n(Duferco-NLMK), from Belgium).
\nCONTENT: with this\nDecision, the European Parliament and the Council have decided to\nmobilise the sum of EUR 981 956 in commitment and payment\nappropriations from European Globalisation Adjustment Fund within\nthe framework of the general budget of the European Union for the\nfinancial year 2015.
\nThis amount shall assist\nBelgium in respect of redundancies in the enterprises Duferco\nBelgium SA and NLMK La Louvière SA.
\nThis application\ncomplies with the requirements for determining the financial\ncontributions as laid down in Regulation\n(EC) No 1927/2006 (EGF Regulation) which remains applicable,\nnotwithstanding its repeal, for all applications submitted before\n31 December 2013.
\nTo recall, the European\nGlobalisation Adjustment Fund was established to provide additional\nsupport for workers made redundant as a result of major structural\nchanges in world trade patterns due to globalisation and to assist\nthem with their reintegration into the labour market.
\nRegulation\n(EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 laying down the multiannual financial\nframework for the years 2014-2020 provides that the EGF shall not\nexceed a maximum annual amount of EUR 150\nmillion.
\nENTRY INTO FORCE:\n11.03.2015.
\n