The European Parliament adopted by 303 votes to 278, with 52 abstentions, a resolution on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on mobilising the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to assist displaced workers (Technical assistance on the initiative of the Commission).

Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 sets the maximum annual amount allocated to the EGF at EUR 186 million (in 2018 prices) and provides that a maximum of 0.5% of this amount may be devoted to technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission.

Technical assistance may consist of technical and administrative expenditure for the implementation of the EGF, such as preparatory, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities, as well as data gathering, including in relation to corporate information technology systems, communication activities and those enhancing the EGF’s visibility as a fund or with regard to specific projects and other technical assistance measures.

Parliament agreed that the EGF should be mobilised so that an amount of EUR 190 000 in commitment and payment appropriations is allocated to technical assistance on the Commission's initiative as part of the general budget of the Union for the financial year 2023.

The Commission will use the available budget under the administrative support for holding meetings of the Expert Group of Contact Persons of the EGF (two members from each Member State) and one seminar with the participation of the implementing bodies of the EGF and social partners in order to promote networking among Member States. The Commission is called on to invite Parliament systematically to these meetings and seminars in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Framework Agreement on relations between Parliament and the Commission.

The Commission is called on to adapt the best practices which were developed during the times of the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular measures that can help to accelerate an inclusive green and digital transition and support core priorities of the Union, such as gender equality.

Stressing the importance of further enhancing the general awareness and the visibility of the EGF, Parliament called on the Commission to regularly update and expand the EGF website in order to increase the visibility of European solidarity through the EGF among the general public and to improve the transparency of EU action.

PURPOSE: Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for displaced workers (Technical assistance on the initiative of the Commission).

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

BACKGROUND: the rules applicable to financial contributions from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) are laid down in Regulation (EU) 2021/691 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013. The annual allocation to the EGF shall not exceed a maximum amount of EUR 186 000 000 (in 2018 prices), as provided for in Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093.

Regulation (EU) 2021/691 provides that a maximum of 0.5% of the maximum annual amount allocated to the EGF may be available each year on technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission. This assistance is necessary to fulfil the obligations relating to the implementation of the EGF imposed by Article 11 of Regulation (EU) 2021/691.

CONTENT: the Commission proposes that within the general budget of the Union for the financial year 2023, the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for displaced workers be mobilised so that an amount of EUR 190 000 in commitment and payment appropriations is allocated to technical assistance on the initiative of the Commission.

In 2023, administrative expenditure will cover:

- the organisation of one virtual and one face-to-face meeting of the EGF Expert pert Group of Contact Persons;

- the organisation by the Commission of one seminar with the participation of EGF implementing bodies and social partners;

- information activities to raise general awareness of the EGF and promote its visibility.

Technical expenditure will cover:

- maintenance and update of an electronic data exchange system. The Commission is continuing its work on standardised procedures for EGF applications and management, using the functionalities of the Shared Fund Management Common System (SFC);

- monitoring and data gathering: the Commission will collect data on applications received, paid and wound up, and measures proposed and implemented. This data will be made available on the web site and compiled in appropriate form for future biennial reports.