P9_TA(2020)0141

Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission

European Parliament resolution of 18 June 2020 on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF/2020/000 TA 2020 — Technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission) (COM(2020)0146 — C9-0112/2020 — 2020/2062(BUD))

(2021/C 362/25)

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2020)0146 — C9-0112/2020),

— 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),

— 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), and in particular point 13 thereof,

— having regard to its resolution of 18 September 2019 on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, (EGF/2019/000 TA 2019 — Technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission) (4),

— having regard to its first reading on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Globalisation Fund (EGF) (5),

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

— having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A9-0109/2020),

A. 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 or of the global financial and economic crisis and to assist their necessary and prompt reintegration into the labour market;

B. whereas the Union’s 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 to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 in respect of the adoption of decisions to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF);

C. whereas the adoption of Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013 reflects the agreement reached between the Parliament and the Council to reintroduce the crisis mobilisation criterion, to increase the 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 Parliament and the Council by shortening the 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;

D. whereas the maximum annual budget available for the EGF is EUR 150 million in 2011 prices and whereas Article 11(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013 states that up to 0,5 % of that amount, that is EUR 179 264 000 in 2020 prices, 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 Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013;

E. whereas the proposed amount of EUR 345 000 corresponds to approximately 0,19 % of the maximum annual budget available for the EGF in 2020;

1. Agrees with the measures that the Commission proposes to finance as technical assistance in accordance with Article 11(1) and (4) and Article 12(2), (3) and (4) of Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013;

2. Acknowledges the importance of monitoring and data gathering; recalls the importance of robust statistical series compiled in an appropriate form so that it is easily accessible and understandable; reiterates the need for updated research on and analysis on the current challenges posed by COVID-19 on the global market;

3. Reiterates the need for a dedicated website, accessible to all Union citizens, containing detailed information about the EGF;

4. Welcomes the continued work on standardised procedures for EGF applications and management using the functionalities of the electronic data exchange system (SFC), which allows for the simplification and faster processing of applications, and better reporting;

5. Takes note that the Commission will use the available budget to hold two meetings of the Expert Group of Contact Persons of the EGF (one member from each Member State) and, most probably at the same time, two seminars with the participation of the implementing bodies of the EGF and the social partners in order to promote networking among Member States;

6. Calls on the Commission to continue to systematically invite Parliament to such meetings and seminars in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Framework Agreement on relations between Parliament and the Commission;

7. Underlines the need to further enhance the cooperation and communication between all those involved in EGF applications, including, in particular, the social partners and stakeholders at regional and local level, to create as many synergies as possible; stresses that interaction between the National Contact Person and regional or local case delivery partners should be strengthened and communication and support arrangements and information flows (internal divisions, tasks and responsibilities) should be made explicit and agreed on by all partners concerned;

8. Reminds applicant Member States of their key role in widely publicising the actions funded by the EGF to the targeted beneficiaries, local and regional authorities, social partners, the media and the general public, as set out in Article 12 of Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013;

9. Recalls that according to the current rules, the EGF could be mobilised to support permanently dismissed workers and the self-employed in the context of the global crisis caused by COVID-19 without amending Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013;

10. Therefore asks the Commission to assist, in any possible way, Member States who intend to prepare an application in the coming weeks and months;

11. Furthermore asks the Commission to do its utmost to show flexibility and to shorten the period of assessment to the extent possible when assessing any application's compliance with the conditions for providing a financial contribution;

12. Approves the decision annexed to this resolution;

13. 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 ;

14. 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) Texts adopted, P9_TA(2019)0015.

(5) Texts adopted, P8_TA(2019)0019.