P9_TA(2019)0015

Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund — EGF/2019/000 TA 2019 — Technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission

European Parliament 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) (COM(2019)0290 — C9-0026/2019 — 2019/2036(BUD))

(2021/C 171/15)

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2019)0290 — C9-0026/2019),

— 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) (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 its resolution of 30 May 2018 on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, (EGF/2018/000 TA 2018 — 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 Adjustment Fund (EGF) (5),

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

— having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A9-0001/2019),

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 IIA of 2 December 2013 in respect of the adoption of decisions to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF);

C. whereas the adoption of the EGF Regulation 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, that is EUR 175 748 000 in 2019 prices, and whereas Article 11(1) of the EGF Regulation states that up to 0,5 % of that amount 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;

E. whereas the proposed amount of EUR 610 000 corresponds to approximately 0,35 % of the maximum annual budget available for the EGF in 2019;

1. Agrees with the measures proposed by the Commission to be financed as technical assistance in accordance with Article 11(1) and (4) as well as with Article 12(2), (3) and (4) of the EGF Regulation;

2. Acknowledges the importance of monitoring and data gathering; recalls the importance on robust statistical series compiled in appropriate form to be easily accessible and understandable;

3. Recalls the importance of a dedicated website on the EGF to be accessible to all Union citizens;

4. Welcomes the continued work on the standardised procedures for EGF applications and management using the functionalities of the electronic data exchange system (SFC2014), which allows for the simplification and faster processing of applications, and better reporting;

5. Takes note that the Commission intends to invest EUR 190 000 of the available budget under the administrative and technical support in holding two meetings of the Expert Group of Contact Persons of the EGF (one member from each Member State) and two seminars with the participation of the implementing bodies of the EGF and social partners;

6. Calls on the Commission to continue to systematically invite Parliament to those 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 liaising 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) made explicit and agreed on by all partners concerned;

8. Welcomes a timely start of the ex-post evaluation for which the Commission intends to invest EUR 300 000 of the available budget

9. Reminds applicant Member States of their key role in widely publicising the actions funded by EGF to the targeted beneficiaries, local and regional authorities, social partners, the media and the general public, as set out in Article 12 of the EGF Regulation;

10. Approves the decision annexed to this resolution;

11. 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 ;

12. 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, P8_TA(2018)0220.

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