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

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

CONTENT: the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) aims to demonstrate solidarity and promote decent and sustainable employment in the Union by providing support for workers made redundant and self-employed persons whose activity has ceased in the case of major restructuring events and assisting them in returning to decent and sustainable employment as soon as possible.

This assistance is necessary to fulfil obligations in EGF implementation, in particular concerning monitoring and data gathering as well as communication activities and those enhancing the EGF’s visibility.

Technical assistance to be funded and breakdown of its estimated costs

The Commission intends to mobilise EUR 165 000 to finance the following tasks:

Administrative expenditure

The Expert Group of Contact Persons of the EGF, with two members from each Member State, will hold regular meetings. In order to promote networking among the Member States, the Commission will organise one seminar with the participation of EGF implementing bodies and social partners.

Regarding information activities, the EGF’s online presence will be enhanced. General awareness of the EGF will also be increased and its visibility promoted.

Technical expenditure

Financial assistance is provided for:

- maintenance and updating 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). This allows applications under the EGF Regulation to be simplified, their processing sped up and various reports more easily extracted. The SFC interface is also facilitating the EGF financial operations;

- 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.

Financing

The maximum annual budget available for the EGF in 2024 is EUR 186 million in 2018 prices (EUR 209 466 210 in 2024 prices), as set out in Article 8 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 of 17 December 2020 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027.

The EGF Regulation states that 0.5 % of this amount can be made available for technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission. Currently, the entire amount for 2024 remains available; nothing has yet been allocated to technical assistance. The proposed amount corresponds to 0.08 % of the maximum annual budget available for the EGF in 2024.

For the general budget of the Union for the financial year 2024, the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers will be mobilised to provide the amount of EUR 165 000 in commitment and payment appropriations.