PURPOSE: to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to finance technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission.

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision 2017/742 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF/2017/000 TA 2017 - Technical assistance on the initiative of the Commission).

CONTENT: the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) was established to provide support for workers made redundant and self-employed persons whose activities have 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, and to assist them with their reintegration into the labour market.

The EGF is not to exceed a maximum annual amount of EUR 150 million (2011 prices).

Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013 provides that a maximum of 0.5 % of the annual maximum amount of the EGF may be used each year for technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission.

As a result, the EGF is mobilised in order to provide the sum of EUR 310 000 to finance technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission in the framework of the 2017 budget.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: the Decision shall enter into force on 28.4.2017. It shall apply from 5.4.2017.

The European Parliament adopted by 579 votes to 104, with 16 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 to provide the sum of EUR 310 000 in commitment and payment appropriations for technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission (EGF/2017/000 TA 2017 - Technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission).

Parliament recalled that the Union has 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 or of the global financial and economic crisis and to assist their reintegration into the labour market.

It recalled that following the agreement reached between the Parliament and the Council on the EGF Regulation, 0.5 % of the total amount of the Funds (i.e. EUR 844 620 in 2017) can be made available for technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission in order to finance preparation, monitoring, data gathering and creation of a knowledge base, administrative and technical support, information and communication activities as well as audit, control and evaluation activities necessary to implement the EGF Regulation.

Therefore, the amount proposed EUR 310 000 corresponds to approximately 0.18 % of the maximum annual budget available for the EGF in 2017, which is EUR 70 000 less that in 2016.

While welcoming the reduction compared to the previous year, Parliament recalled the importance of setting up a dedicated website on the EGF to be accessible to all Union citizens as well as multilingualism when communicating broadly to the public.

Parliament also took note that the Commission intends to invest EUR 70 000 of the available budget under the technical assistance in holding two meetings of the Expert Group of Contact Persons of the EGF . It noted the Commission’s intention to invest EUR 120 000 in order to promote networking through seminars among Member States, EGF implementing bodies and social partners.

While welcoming the fact that the Commission invited Members of its EGF Working Group to participate in the recent EGF Networking Seminar that took place in Mons, Parliament called on the Commission to continue with these information mechanisms.

The European Parliament accepted the measures proposed by the Commission to be financed from the Fund and decided to approve the proposal for a decision annexed to the resolution and to mobilise EUR 310 000 in commitment and payment appropriations under the EGF, within the framework of the EU budget for 2017.

The Committee on Budgets adopted the report by Victor NEGRESCU (S&D, RO) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund to provide the sum of EUR 310 000 in commitment and payment appropriations for technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission (EGF/2017/000 TA 2017 - Technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission).

Members recalled that the Union has 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 or of the global financial and economic crisis and to assist their reintegration into the labour market.

They recalled that following the agreement reached between the Parliament and the Council on the EGF Regulation, 0.5 % of the total amount of the Funds (i.e. EUR 844 620 in 2017) can be made available for technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission in order to finance preparation, monitoring, data gathering and creation of a knowledge base, administrative and technical support, information and communication activities as well as audit, control and evaluation activities necessary to implement the EGF Regulation.

Therefore, the amount proposed EUR 310 000 corresponds to approximately 0.18 % of the maximum annual budget available for the EGF in 2017, which is EUR 70 000 less that in 2016.

While welcoming the reduction compared to the previous year, they recalled the importance of setting up a dedicated website on the EGF to be accessible to all Union citizens as well as multilingualism when communicating broadly to the public.

Members took note that the Commission intends to invest EUR 70 000 of the available budget under the technical assistance in holding two meetings of the Expert Group of Contact Persons of the EGF .

They also noted the Commission’s intention to invest EUR 120 000 in order to promote networking through seminars among Member States, EGF implementing bodies and social partners.

Members welcomed the Commission’s readiness to invite Members of its EGF Working Group to participate in the recent EGF Networking Seminar that took place in Mons. However, they called on it to continue to invite the Parliament to these meetings and seminars.

They stressed the need to further enhance the liaising between all those involved in EGF applications, including, in particular, the social partners and stakeholders at regional and local level and to create as many synergies as possible.

Lastly, they called on the European Parliament to approve the decision annexed to this resolution and provide for the mobilisation of EUR 310 000 in commitment and payment appropriations under the EGF in the framework of the EU budget for the financial year 2017.

The Committee on Budgets adopted the report by Victor NEGRESCU (S&D, RO) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund to provide the sum of EUR 310 000 in commitment and payment appropriations for technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission (EGF/2017/000 TA 2017 - Technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission).

Members recalled that the Union has 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 or of the global financial and economic crisis and to assist their reintegration into the labour market.

They recalled that following the agreement reached between the Parliament and the Council on the EGF Regulation, 0.5 % of the total amount of the Funds (i.e. EUR 844 620 in 2017) can be made available for technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission in order to finance preparation, monitoring, data gathering and creation of a knowledge base, administrative and technical support, information and communication activities as well as audit, control and evaluation activities necessary to implement the EGF Regulation.

Therefore, the amount proposed EUR 310 000 corresponds to approximately 0.18 % of the maximum annual budget available for the EGF in 2017, which is EUR 70 000 less that in 2016.

While welcoming the reduction compared to the previous year, they recalled the importance of setting up a dedicated website on the EGF to be accessible to all Union citizens as well as multilingualism when communicating broadly to the public.

Members took note that the Commission intends to invest EUR 70 000 of the available budget under the technical assistance in holding two meetings of the Expert Group of Contact Persons of the EGF .

They also noted the Commission’s intention to invest EUR 120 000 in order to promote networking through seminars among Member States, EGF implementing bodies and social partners.

Members welcomed the Commission’s readiness to invite Members of its EGF Working Group to participate in the recent EGF Networking Seminar that took place in Mons. However, they called on it to continue to invite the Parliament to these meetings and seminars.

They stressed the need to further enhance the liaising between all those involved in EGF applications, including, in particular, the social partners and stakeholders at regional and local level and to create as many synergies as possible.

Lastly, they called on the European Parliament to approve the decision annexed to this resolution and provide for the mobilisation of EUR 310 000 in commitment and payment appropriations under the EGF in the framework of the EU budget for the financial year 2017.

PURPOSE: to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to finance technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission.

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

CONTENT: 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).

In accordance with Article 11(1) of the EGF Regulation, a maximum of 0.5 % of the annual maximum amount of the EGF may be made available each year for technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission.

Technical assistance to be funded (EGF/2017/000 TA 2017) and breakdown of its estimated costs : the Commission intends to mobilise EUR 310 000 to cover the following tasks:

monitoring and data gathering: EUR 20 000 ; improving the web site on the EGF: EUR 20 000 in 2017; creating a knowledge base / application interface: EUR 80 000 ; administrative and technical support: EUR 70 000 ; promote networking among the Member States: EUR 120 000 .

Financing : currently, the entire amount for 2017 remains available; nothing has yet been allocated to technical assistance. Therefore, it is proposed to mobilise about 0.18 % of the maximum annual budget available for the EGF in 2017, that is EUR 310 000.