P8_TA(2014)0017

Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund - application EGF/2014/001 EL/Nutriart - Greece

European Parliament resolution of 17 September 2014 on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, in accordance with 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 (application EGF/2014/001 EL/Nutriart from Greece) (COM(2014)0376 – C8-0032/2014 – 2014/2042(BUD))

(2016/C 234/12)

The European Parliament,

having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2014)0376 – C8-0032/2014),

having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (2014-2020) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1927/2006 (1) (new EGF Regulation),

having regard to Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 (2) , and in particular Article 12 thereof,

having regard to 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 (3) (IIA of 2 December 2013), and in particular point 13 thereof,

having regard to trilogue procedure provided for in point 13 of the IIA of 2 December 2013,

having regard to the letter of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs,

having regard to the letter of the Committee on Regional Development,

having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A8-0004/2014),

whereas 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 and to assist their reintegration into the labour market;

whereas the Union’s financial assistance to workers made redundant should be dynamic and made available as quickly and efficiently as possible, in accordance with the Joint Declaration of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission adopted during the conciliation meeting on 17 July 2008, and having due regard for the IIA of 2 December 2013 in respect of the adoption of decisions to mobilise the EGF;

whereas Greece submitted application EGF/2014/001 EL/Nutriart for a financial contribution from the EGF, following redundancies in Nutriart S.A and 25 providers and downstream producers and 24 self-employed people whose activity ceased and was dependent on the primary enterprise in Greece with 508 workers targeted for EGF co-funded measures, during the reference period from 16 July 2013 to 16 November 2013;

whereas 66,34 % of the workers targeted by the measures are men and 33,66 % are women; whereas the vast majority (86,42 %) of the workers are between 30 and 54 years old; whereas 8,07 % of the workers are between 55 and 64 years old;

whereas the application fulfils the eligibility criteria set up by the EGF Regulation;

Agrees with the Commission that the conditions set out in Article 4(1)(a) of the new EGF Regulation are met and that, therefore, Greece is entitled to a financial contribution under that Regulation;

Notes that the Greek authorities submitted the application for EGF financial contribution on 5 February 2014, supplemented it by additional information until 2 April 2014, and that its assessment was made available by the Commission on 24 June 2014; welcomes the speedy evaluation of four months;

Notes that this is the first application which was submitted and assessed under the scope of the new EGF Regulation;

Considers that the redundancies in Nutriart S.A and 25 providers and downstream producers and 24 self-employed people whose activity ceased and was dependent on the primary enterprise in Greece are linked to global financial and economic crisis, referring to the fact that the Greek economy has experienced a cumulative fall of 5 % in its GDP since 2008 and despite the fact that it slowly emerges out of recession it is still unable to create new job opportunities and reduce the unemployment rate which is at a historical record of 26-27 % of the working population;

Notes that the events giving rise to the redundancies were mainly three: (1) the decrease of available household income that affected in a very negative way the consumption of a different range of products — (due to the increase in the tax burden, decreasing salaries of both private and public employees and rising unemployment) — resulting in a huge drop of purchasing power; (2) the delayed payments by most of the Nutriart’s clients; and (3) the drastic reduction of loans to enterprises and individuals due to the effort of the Greek banking system to reduce its outstanding loans;

Stresses that the 508 redundancies will further aggravate the unemployment situation in Attica and Central Macedonia regions bearing in mind that in the fourth quarter of 2013 the unemployment rate in Attica was 28,2 % whilst in Central Macedonia it was 30,3 % (4) ; notes moreover that Attica accounts for 43 % of the Greek GDP and therefore the impact of the closure of enterprises based in this region reaches the whole Greek economy; notes, in addition, that rising unemployment in the two major urban centres of Greece weakened social cohesion and contributed to social tensions;

Welcomes the fact that, in order to provide workers with speedy assistance, the Greek authorities decided to initiate the implementation of the personalised services to the affected workers on 30 April 2014 well ahead of the final decision on granting the EGF support for the proposed coordinated package;

Warmly welcomes the fact that, in addition to 508 redundant workers, the Greek authorities will provide personalised services co-financed by the EGF to up to 505 young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs) under the age of 30 which brings the total number of targeted beneficiaries to participate in the measures to 1 013; stresses that this is the first time that this provision of the new EGF Regulation is used;

Notes that the maximum eligible amount of EUR 15 000 will be granted to 150 selected workers and NEETs as a contribution to setting up their own businesses; underlines that the aim of this measure is to promote entrepreneurship by providing funding, which should result in the creation of further workplaces in the medium term;

Notes that the coordinated package of personalised services to be co-funded includes measures for workers made redundant, self-employed persons whose activity has ceased and NEETs such as occupational guidance, training, retraining and vocational training, counselling services towards entrepreneurship, contribution to business start-up, job-search allowances and mobility allowances; warmly welcomes the fact that for the first time self-employed persons are included in co-funding of the EGF;

Welcomes the idea of the development of an incubator for innovative new businesses;

Welcomes the fact that the coordinated package of personalised services has been drawn up in consultation with the representatives of the targeted beneficiaries, the trade union GSEE (General Confederation of Greek Workers) and the Hellenic Confederation of Enterprises, and that a policy of equality of women and men as well as the principle non-discrimination will be applied during the various stages of the implementation of and in access to the EGF;

Recalls the importance of improving the ability of all workers to seek employment 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;

Notes that the information provided on the coordinated package of personalised services to be funded from the EGF includes information on complementarity with actions funded by the Structural Funds; stresses that the Greek authorities confirm that the eligible actions do not receive assistance from other Union financial instruments; reiterates its call to the Commission to present a comparative evaluation of those data in its annual reports in order to ensure full respect of the existing regulations and that no duplication of Union-funded services can occur;

Appreciates the improved procedure put in place by the Commission, following Parliament's request for the accelerated release of grants; notes that the Commission finalised the assessment of the application’s compliance with the conditions for providing a financial contribution within 12 weeks of the receipt of the complete application;

Stresses that, in accordance with Article 9 of the new EGF Regulation, it shall be ensured that the EGF assistance is limited to what is necessary to provide solidarity and temporary one-off support for targeted beneficiaries, and will not furthermore replace actions which are the responsibility of companies by virtue of national law or collective agreements;

Welcomes the adoption of the new EGF Regulation which reflects the agreement reached between the Parliament and the Council to reintroduce the crisis mobilisation criterion, to increase Union financial contribution to 60 % of the total estimated cost of proposed measures, to increase efficiency for the treatment of EGF applications in the Commission and by the Parliament and the Council by shortening time for assessment and approval, to widen eligible actions and beneficiaries by introducing self-employed persons and young people and to finance incentives for setting up own businesses;

Instructs its President to sign the decision with the President of the Council and arrange for its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution, including its annex, to the Council and the Commission.

(1) OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 855.

(2) OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 884.

(3) OJ C 373, 20.12.2013, p. 1.

(4) Source: ELSTAT, Q4 2013 Labour Force Survey.

ANNEX

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, in accordance with 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 (application EGF/2014/001 EL/Nutriart from Greece)

(The text of this annex is not reproduced here since it corresponds to the final act, Decision 2014/698/EU.)