Activites

• 2015/10/20 Final act published in Official Journal
  • Decision 2015/1869
  • OJ L 275 20.10.2015, p. 0024
• 2015/10/06 Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
  • T8-0334/2015 summary

    The European Parliament adopted by 608 votes to 77, with 9 abstentions, a resolution on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for an amount of EUR 6 268 564 in commitment and payment appropriations to assist Belgium following redundancies in its automotive industry. 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. Belgian application: Belgium submitted application EGF/2015/003 BE/Ford Genk for a financial contribution from the EGF following 5 111 redundancies were made redundant in Ford Genk, operating in the NACE Rev. 2 division 29 ('Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers') and in 11 suppliers and downstream producers, whereas the estimate number of 4 500 redundant workers are expected to participate in the measures. Given that the conditions set out in Article 4(1)(a) of the EGF Regulation are met, Belgium is entitled to a financial contribution under that Regulation. Nature of the redundancies: Parliament noted that the Belgian car industry has suffered a production decline of 15.58% as global production increased by 18.9%. Ford Genk has been the largest employer in the province of Limburg and these redundancies cause considerable damage to the Limburg economy. These redundancies caused considerable damage to the Limburg economy with a total loss of more than 8 000 jobs (including indirect job losses), most of which are Union citizens between 30 and 54 years of age, a rise in the unemployment rate of between 1.8 and 2 percentage points (up to a 29.4% increase in the region's unemployment rate from 6.8% to 8.8%). Parliament stated that a first wave of dismissals in Ford Genk in 2013 gave way to a first EGF application also based on globalisation, which is currently being implemented and that this second application relates to the redundancies at the Ford Genk plant carried out in 2014 up to the final closure of the facility in December 2014. A package of personalised services: Parliament welcomed that the Belgian authorities decided to initiate the implementation of the personalised services to the affected workers on 1 January 2015, well ahead of the decision and even the application on the granting the EGF support for the proposed coordinated package. Belgium is planning three types of measures for the redundant workers covered by this application: individual job search assistance, case management and general information services, training and re-training, and allowances and incentives. It welcomed that the coordinated package of personalised services has been drawn up in consultation with the targeted beneficiaries, their representatives, social partners, local, regional and national public employment bodies and training institutions as well as the company. The Belgian authorities confirmed that the eligible actions do not receive assistance from other Union financial instruments. In this regard, the Commission is called upon to present a comparative evaluation of those data in its annual reports in order to ensure full respect for the existing regulations and that no duplication of Union-funded services can occur. Parliament also welcomed that the authorities plan to utilise most of the available funds for personalised services and only 4.94% of the total costs for the coordinated package of personalised services will be used for allowances and incentives, which remains much below the maximum allowed 35%. Lastly, Parliament appreciated the improved procedure put in place by the Commission, following the Parliament's request for the accelerated release of grants and noted that the time pressure that the new timetable implies and the potential impact on the effectiveness of case instruction.

• #3412
• 2015/10/05 Council Meeting
• 2015/09/30 Budgetary report tabled for plenary, 1st reading
  • A8-0272/2015 summary

    The Committee on Budgets adopted the report by Paul RÜBIG (EPP, AT) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for an amount of EUR 6 268 564 in commitment and payment appropriations to assist Belgium following redundancies in its automotive industry. 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. Belgian application: Belgium submitted application EGF/2015/003 BE/Ford Genk for a financial contribution from the EGF following 5 111 redundancies of which 3701 workers were made redundant in Ford Genk and 1180 in 11 suppliers and downstream producers, operating in the NACE Rev. 2 division 29 ('Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers') and 11 suppliers or downstream producers, whereas the estimate number of 4 500 redundant workers are expected to participate in the measures. Members noted that the conditions set out in Article 4(1)(a) of the EGF Regulation are met. Therefore, Belgium is entitled to a financial contribution under that Regulation. Nature of the redundancies: the Belgian car industry has suffered a production decline of 15.58% as global production increased by 18.9%. Ford Genk has been the largest employer in the province of Limburg and these redundancies cause considerable damage to the Limburg economy. A first wave of dismissals in Ford Genk in 2013 gave way to a first EGF application also based on globalisation, which is currently being implemented and that this second application relates to the redundancies at the Ford Genk plant carried out in 2014 up to the final closure of the facility in December 2014. A package of personalised services: Members noted that the Belgian authorities decided to initiate the implementation of the personalised services to the affected workers on 1 January 2015, well ahead of the decision and even the application on the granting the EGF support for the proposed coordinated package. Belgium is planning three types of measures for the redundant workers covered by this application: (i) individual job search assistance, case management and general information services, (ii) training and re-training, and (iii) allowances and incentives. Members welcomed that the coordinated package of personalised services has been drawn up in consultation with the targeted beneficiaries, their representatives, social partners, local, regional and national public employment bodies and training institutions as well as the company. The Belgian authorities confirmed that the eligible actions do not receive assistance from other Union financial instruments. In this regard, the Commission is called upon to present a comparative evaluation of those data in its annual reports in order to ensure full respect for the existing regulations and that no duplication of Union-funded services can occur. Members also welcomed that the authorities plan to utilise most of the available funds for personalised services and only 4.94% of the total costs for the coordinated package of personalised services will be used for allowances and incentives, which remains much below the maximum allowed 35%. Lastly, Members appreciated the improved procedure put in place by the Commission, following the Parliament's request for the accelerated release of grants and noted that the time pressure that the new timetable implies and the potential impact on the effectiveness of case instruction.

• 2015/09/29 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
• 2015/09/07 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
• 2015/07/14 Non-legislative basic document published
  • COM(2015)0336 summary

    PURPOSE: to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to assist Belgium following redundancies in its automotive industry. 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 Commission examined the application for mobilisation of the EGF to assist Belgium and concluded the following: Belgium: EGF/2015/003 BE/Ford Genk: on 24 March 2015, Belgium submitted an application EGF/2015/003 BE/Ford Genk for a financial contribution from the EGF, following redundancies in Ford Genk and 11 suppliers and dowstream producers in Belgium. Belgium submitted its application within 12 weeks of the date on which the intervention criteria set out in the EGF Regulation were met. The deadline of 12 weeks of the receipt of the complete application within which the Commission should finalise its assessment of the application's compliance with the conditions for providing a financial contribution expires on 11 August 2015. In order to establish the link between the redundancies and major structural changes in world trade patterns due to globalisation, Belgium argues that the European automotive industry has lost significant market share within the past decade. A main driving force behind this trend is the geographical shift in consumption linked to globalisation, in particular the rapid growth in demand on the Asian market from which EU manufacturers are less able to benefit, being traditionally less well positioned on these markets. In absolute terms, while the EU faced a production decline for passenger cars of 14.6% between 2007 and 2012, global production increased by 18.9%, notably in China (143.3%) as well as other South-East Asian and Middle Eastern economies. The economic and financial crisis aggravated the situation for the European automotive industry, which has also been hampered by import restrictions in third countries (new import licensing requirements, e.g. in Argentina and Brazil and rising import duties, e.g. in Russia). Figures for Belgium indicate that the Belgian car industry has suffered the full impact of these trends. To date, the NACE Revision 2 Division 29 sector (Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers) has been the subject of 21 EGF applications, 11 of which based on trade related globalisation and 10 on the global financial and economic crisis. Basis of the Belgian application: Belgium 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 over a reference period of four months in an enterprise in a Member State, including workers made redundant by suppliers and downstream producers and/or self-employed persons whose activity has ceased. The reference period of four months for the application runs from 1 September 2014 to 31 December 2014. The redundancies during the reference period are as follows: 3 701 workers made redundant in Ford Genk; 1 180 workers made redundant in 11 suppliers and downstream producers of Ford Genk. In view of the Belgian request, it is proposed to mobilise the EGF for the amount of EUR 6 268 564 to make a contribution to the package of personalised services. BUDGETARY 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 6 268 564, 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 required 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.

  • DG {'url': 'http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/budget/', 'title': 'Budget'}, GEORGIEVA Kristalina

Documents

• Non-legislative basic document published: COM(2015)0336
• Budgetary report tabled for plenary, 1st reading: A8-0272/2015
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T8-0334/2015
• : Decision 2015/1869
• : OJ L 275 20.10.2015, p. 0024

History

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