P8_TA(2014)0030

Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: application EGF/2014/004 ES/Comunidad Valenciana metal — Spain

European Parliament resolution of 21 October 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/2014/004 ES/Comunidad Valenciana metal from Spain) (COM(2014)0515 — C8-0125/2014 — 2014/2064(BUD))

(2016/C 274/06)

The European Parliament,

having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2014)0515 — C8-0125/2014),

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) (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 (A8-0013/2014),

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 European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF),

whereas Spain submitted application EGF/2014/004 ES/Comunidad Valenciana metal for a financial contribution from the EGF, following 633 redundancies in 142 enterprises operating in the manufacture of fabricated metal products, in Spain with 300 workers targeted for EGF co-funded measures, during the reference period from 1 April 2013 to 31 December 2013,

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)(b) of the EGF Regulation are met and that, therefore, Spain is entitled to a financial contribution under that Regulation;

Notes that the Spanish authorities submitted the application for EGF financial contribution on 25 March 2014, and that its assessment was made available by the Commission on 12 August 2014; welcomes the speedy evaluation of less than five months;

Welcomes that the application takes into account the experience with previous applications from the same region; suggests that the experiences and possible best practices of regions submitting several applications should be disseminated in the regular meetings of the EGF contact persons and experts;

Considers that the redundancies in 142 enterprises operating in the manufacture of fabricated metal products in Spain are linked to global financial and economic crisis; notes that Spain is among the Member States most seriously affected by the crisis, that led to a lower demand for, and production of, metal and metal products; notes that in Spain the production of metal products decreased by 23,3 % in 2009 compared with the previous year and by 36,6 % between 2008 and 2013; notes that the turnover of the sector decreased by 38,5 % in the period 2008-2012 and the job losses represent 43 % of total employment in metal sector;

Notes that the sector of fabricated metal products is a key provider of inputs to a wide range of manufacturing industries, in particular shipbuilding, construction and automotive sectors, all of which were significantly impacted across the Union by the economic crisis;

Notes that the case at hand typically reflects the social and economic landscape of a region with a local economy characterised by a high percentage of SMEs and recalls the current difficulties encountered by SMEs in accessing finance;

Stresses that the 633 redundancies will further aggravate the unemployment situation in Comunidad Valenciana which is particularly fragile, since the metal sector represents 25,4 % of the jobs in the industrial sector in the region; notes that in 2008 there were 35 868 jobs in the metal sector in Comunidad Valenciana, while in 2012 the number of jobs had decreased to 20 873 which represents a decline by 43 %, i.e. eight percentage points higher than at national level;

Notes with regret that less than 50 % of the eligible workers are expected to participate in the measures; considers that this estimation is based on experiences of the applying authority with previous applications for EGF intervention in the regions; nevertheless considers that in regions with high unemployment rates the number of participants in training and retraining needs to be higher;

Stresses that employment in the region has been seriously affected by the impact of the crisis on traditional sectors such as ceramics, footwear and construction, as well as textiles, which are very important for the region's economy;

Welcomes that redundant workers are expected to participate in great numbers in vocational training and upskilling; appreciates that such upskilling is designed to build on skills and competencies gained in the metal industry and with learning further specific techniques the workers can comply with future needs of the metal industry;

Welcomes the fact that, in order to provide workers with speedy assistance, the Spanish authorities decided to initiate the implementation of the personalised services to the affected workers on 20 June 2014, ahead of the final decision on granting the EGF support for the proposed coordinated package;

Welcomes the fact that the personalised services for redundant workers will be co-funded by the Generalitat Valenciana (the autonomous government of Comunidad Valenciana) and in particular from the SERVEF (public labour offices of the autonomous government) with 30 % of the total budget and by the employers' association Federación Empresarial Metalúrgica Valenciana-FEMEVAL and the trade unions UGT-PV and CCOO-PV with 10 % of the total budget;

Notes that the coordinated package of personalised services to be co-funded includes measures for workers made redundant such as occupational guidance, job placement, trainings (vocational training and upskilling, training in transversal skills, on-the-job training), promotion of enterpreneurship, incentive for setting up a business, job-search allowance, contribution to commuting expenses and employment incentive;

Notes the amount of EUR 3 000 to be granted to an expected 20 beneficiaries, to incentivise their return to the labour market by setting up their own business; considers that the estimation of the number of workers benefitting from this incentive is also based on experiences with previous EGF cases in the region;

Welcomes the fact that the coordinated package of personalised services has been drawn up in consultation with both employer's association FEMEVAL, and trade unions UGT-PV and CCOO-PV, 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 Spanish 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;

Notes that the estimated cost of the welcome and information sessions, as a first measure in the list of proposed actions, has elevated by 50 % compared to an application from the same region from the previous year;

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 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 no longer replace actions which are the responsibility of companies by virtue of national law or collective agreements;

Welcomes the adoption of the EGF Regulation which 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 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;

Reminds that, in line with Article 7 of the EGF Regulation, the design of the coordinated package of personalised services should anticipate future labour market perspectives and required skills and should be compatible with the shift towards a resource-efficient and sustainable economy;

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.

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/2014/004 ES/Comunidad Valenciana metal from Spain)

(The text of this annex is not reproduced here since it corresponds to the final act, Decision 2014/816/EU.)