CELEX: 52014PC0553
Language: en
Date: 2014-09-05
Title: 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/2013/002 BE/Carsid from Belgium)

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		52014PC0553
		
			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/2013/002 BE/Carsid from Belgium) /* COM/2014/0553 final */
			
				
		
		
			
			   	EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL
1.           The rules applicable to financial
contributions from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) for
applications submitted until 31 December 2013 are laid down in Regulation
(EC) No 1927/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December
2006 on establishing the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (the ‘EGF
Regulation’)[1].
2.           On 2 April 2013, Belgium submitted application EGF/2013/002 BE/Carsid for a financial contribution from the EGF,
following redundancies linked to the closure of the production plant of Carsid
SA (‘Carsid’)[2]
located in Marcinelle near Charleroi[3].
The application was supplemented by additional information up to 4 July
2014.
3.           Having examined this
application, the Commission has concluded, in accordance with the applicable
provisions of the EGF Regulation, that the conditions for a financial
contribution from the EGF are met.
SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION
 EGF application: || EGF/2013/002 BE/Carsid 
 Member State: || Belgium 
 Date of submission of the application: || 2.4.2013 
 Intervention criterion: || Article 2(a) of the EGF Regulation 
 Primary enterprise: || Carsid SA 
 Number of suppliers and downstream producers: || 0 
 Reference period: || 28.9.2012-28.1.2013 
 Date on which the personalised services to the targeted workers were started: || 1.10.2012 
 Number of redundancies during the reference period: || 939 
 Number of redundancies before and after the reference period: || 0 
 Total number of redundancies: || 939 
 Number of persons expected to participate in the measures: || 752 
 Budget for personalised services: || EUR 1 760 869 
 Budget for implementing the EGF: || EUR 63 000 (3.5 % of the total budget) 
 Total budget: || EUR 1 823 869 
 Financial contribution requested from the EGF: || EUR 911 934 (50 % of the total budget) 
ANALYSIS OF THE APPLICATION
Link between the redundancies and
major structural changes in world trade patterns due to globalisation
4.           In order to establish the
link between the redundancies and major structural changes in world trade
patterns due to globalisation, the Belgian authorities argue that the sector of
the production of continuously-cast crude steel (which includes billets, blooms
and slabs), in which Carsid operated, has undergone serious economic disruption,
in particular a rapid decline of the EU’s market share. 
5.           According to data referred
to by the Belgian authorities[4],
between 2006 and 2011, the production of continuously-cast crude steel in the
EU-27 decreased from 197.1 million tonnes to 170.8 million tonnes (− 13.4 %;
− 2.8 % annual growth[5]),
whereas, at worldwide level, production increased from 1 149.6 million
tonnes to 1 438.3 million tonnes (+ 25.1 %;
+ 4.6 % annual growth). This has led to a decrease of the
EU-27’s market share in the production of continuously-cast crude steel,
measured in volume terms, from 17.1 % in 2006 to 11.9 % in 2011
(− 30.7 %; − 7.1 %
annual growth). By comparison, during the same period, China’s market share increased from 35.5 % to 46.8 % (+ 32.0 %; + 5.7 %
annual growth), whereas the market shares of the five other largest producers (which
account together for around 25 % to 30 % of worldwide production) either
decreased, although to a lesser extent than for the EU-27 (Japan, USA, Russia), or increased moderately (South Korea, India). These data therefore show a rapid
decline of the EU’s market share in the sector of the production of
continuously-cast crude steel at worldwide level.
Market
share in the production of continuously-cast crude steel at worldwide level
(volume)
Source: World Steel Association, own calculations.
6.           As shown in the figure
below, between 2002 and 2011, imports of ingots and semi-finished steel
products[6]
in the EU-27 increased from 13.3 million tonnes to 18.1 million tonnes (+ 36.8 %;
+ 3.5 % annual growth), whereas exports of such products remained
generally stable, going from 11.0 million tonnes to 10.8 million tonnes
(− 1.8 %; − 0.2 % annual growth), thus leading
to an overall deterioration of the trade balance (− 13.9 %
annual growth).
Imports
and exports of ingots and semi-finished steel products in the EU-27 (000
tonnes)
Source: World Steel Association.
7.           The effects of these changes
in trade patterns have been worsened by other factors such as a decrease in
demand in steel in the automotive and construction sectors in the EU as a
consequence of the economic crisis and a relative increase of production costs
(raw materials, energy, environmental constraints, etc.). These factors have harmed
the competiveness of the EU’s steel industry and have led to a high number of
job losses in the steel sector in recent years due to plant closures and restructuring
by several steel manufacturers in Europe[7].
For instance, between 2008 and 2013, the number of persons employed in the metallurgic
industry (NACE Rev. 2 division 24 ‘Manufacture of basic metals’) in the EU-27 decreased
by around 280 000 from 1.44 million to 1.16 million (− 19.4 %)[8].
8.           Since the start of the EGF
in 2007, there have been four EGF applications in the steel sector[9]. Three of these
applications were linked to major structural changes in world trade patterns
due to globalisation[10]
and one to the global financial and economic crisis[11].
Number of redundancies and compliance
with the criteria of Article 2(a)
9.           The application is based
on the intervention criteria of Article 2(a) of the EGF Regulation, which requires
at least 500 redundancies over a period of four months in an enterprise in a Member State.
10.         The application relates to 939
redundancies made during a period of four months from 28 September 2012 to
28 January 2013. All the redundancies have been calculated from the date
of the employer’s individual notice to lay off or to terminate the contract of
employment of the worker, as laid down in the first indent of the second
paragraph of Article 2 of the EGF Regulation (‘method 1’).
Explanation of the unforeseen nature
of those redundancies
11.         The Belgian authorities
argue that the redundancies at Carsid could not have been foreseen. In 2007,
Carsid invested EUR 100 million in the renovation of its blast furnace and
EUR 27 million in environmental improvements. In 2008, it ordered
equipment to start developing the production of vacuum steel and high value-added
products. Carsid had also received CO2 emissions allowances for the
period 2008-2013 and had requested CO2 allowances for the period after
2013. However, in November 2008, because of the reduction in demand due to the
economic crisis, Carsid decided to temporarily stop its production activities. Following
an agreement with the workers’ representatives, production-line workers were put
on full-time temporary unemployment and office workers and executives were put
on time-credit schemes or reduced working time. Between 2008 and 2011, Carsid
recorded significant losses. In 2011, Carsid started looking for potential
buyers but was unable to conclude a takeover deal. Eventually, in March 2012, Carsid
informed its works council that it had decided to close the plant and to carry
out collective redundancies.
Identification of the targeted
workers
12.         The Belgian authorities
estimate that 752 of the 939 workers made redundant will take part in the measures
cofinanced by the EGF[12].
13.         The breakdown of targeted
workers by sex, nationality and age group is as follows:
 Category || Number of targeted workers 
 Sex: || Men: || 740 
   || Women: || 12 
 Nationality: || EU nationals: || 723 
   || Non-EU nationals: || 29 
 Age group: || 15-24 years old: || 0 
   || 25-54 years old: || 595 
   || 55-64 years old: || 157 
   || Over 65 years old: || 0 
14.         None of the targeted
workers have a longstanding health problem or disability.
15.         The breakdown of targeted
workers by occupational category[13]
is as follows:
 ISCO-08 major group || Number of targeted workers 
 1 Managers || 34 
 2 Professionals || 28 
 3 Technicians and associate professionals || 68 
 4 Clerical support workers || 27 
 5 Service and sales workers || 19 
 7 Craft and related trades workers || 256 
 8 Plant and machine operators and assemblers || 320 
 9 Elementary occupations || 0 
 Unknown / not available || 0 
16.         In accordance with Article 7
of the EGF Regulation, the Belgian authorities have confirmed that the
principles of equality of treatment and non-discrimination will be respected in
the access to the measures and their implementation.
Description of the territory
concerned and its authorities and stakeholders
17.         The redundancies at Carsid primarily
affect the arrondissement of Charleroi in the province of Hainaut, in the Walloon
Region, in southern Belgium. The area of Charleroi (southern Hainaut) is a former coal-mining and steelmaking area in which employment is strongly
dependant on traditional heavy industry. In 2012, the unemployment rate in the area
of Charleroi (arrondissement) was 21.6 %, compared to 15.8 % on
average in the Walloon Region and 11.2 % at national level. The employment
rate (50.6 %) was significantly below the regional and national averages
(respectively 69.0 % and 61.3 %)[14].
In 2012, around 42 % of jobseekers registered at the Charleroi regional
directorate (FOREM) had been unemployed for more than two years and 58 % did
not have higher secondary education[15].
18.         The measures are
implemented by FOREM (the public employment and training service of the Walloon
Region) through a Redeployment Unit (cellule de reconversion)
specifically set up as part of the legal obligations for the collective
redundancies procedure[16].
The Redeployment Unit for Carsid is managed by a committee which brings
together representatives from the Walloon public services in charge of
employment, training, and economic affairs, FOREM, trade unions, and
sector-based vocational training organisations. 
19.         Besides FOREM, the other
organisations involved in the general coordination and implementation of the
measures therefore include:
–              
the Walloon Government (Minister-President of
the Walloon Region in charge of Structural Funds coordination, Minister for Employment
and Training, Minister for the Economy);
–              
trade unions (FGTB, CSC);
–              
the sectoral vocational and technological
training centres active in the Walloon region (centres de compétences)[17]; 
–              
the European Social Fund (ESF) Agency of the
French Community of Belgium.
Expected impact of the redundancies
as regards local, regional or national employment
20.         The
redundancies at Carsid are expected to significantly worsen unemployment in the
Charleroi area (southern Hainaut). As indicated above, the Charleroi area is characterised by a high level of
unemployment, with a high proportion of long-term unemployment and low qualification
levels and skills levels. The economic crisis has had a stronger impact in the Charleroi area than in the rest of Wallonia. The sectoral structure of employment in the Charleroi area partly explains this trend as the manufacturing industry plays a stronger
role than in the rest of Wallonia. Overall, the manufacturing sector accounts
for a high number of jobs (19 500) and appears as a specialisation of
southern Hainaut. The number of jobs in the manufacturing sector in southern
Hainaut has however declined sharply in recent years (− 15.3 %
between 2007 and 2012), particularly in sectors where companies often employ a large
number of workers, e.g. the manufacture of machinery and equipment (e.g. Caterpillar):
− 970 jobs (− 18.6 %), metallurgy (e.g. Carsid,
Industeel, Aperam, Thy-Marcinelle): − 110 jobs (− 30.6 %),
the manufacture of fabricated metal products (e.g. Cofely Fabricom): − 399
jobs (− 12.3 %) and the manufacture of other transport
equipment (e.g. Sonaca, SABCA): − 160 jobs (− 5.5 %).
The ability of local companies active in these sectors to take on the number of
workers made redundant by Carsid is very limited. Given the decline in
employment in manufacturing also in the neighbouring areas of Namur and Centre,
it is likely that these workers will have to retrain to find jobs in other occupations
and other sectors.
Personalised services to be funded
and breakdown of estimated costs
21.         Only some of the measures
which form part of the actions implemented by the Belgian authorities to
support the workers made redundant by Carsid will be cofinanced by the EGF. Measures
that are mandatory under collective redundancies procedures in Belgium and which are carried out as part of the standard activities of the Redeployment
Unit (e.g. outplacement support, training, job-search assistance and careers
advice, etc.)[18]
are therefore not included in this EGF application. The overall set of measures
(mandatory measures and EGF measures) is managed by FOREM.
22.         The personalised services
provided to the redundant workers as part of the actions to be cofinanced by
the EGF consist of the following measures (grouped by category)[19]:
(1)         
Individual job-search assistance, case
management and general information services:
–              
Redeployment (support / guidance /
integration): This set of services builds upon the standard
activities carried out by the Redeployment Unit. The services will be provided
by a team of FOREM staff (project manager, specialised advisers) in partnership
with former workers’ representatives who act as ‘social attendants’ (accompagnateurs
sociaux) to encourage workers to take part in the measures and to help them
with administrative procedures. To facilitate contacts between the workers, the
services are provided jointly to all the redundant workers at dedicated premises.
The services cover three types of activity: (i) collective information on
job-search techniques (writing a CV and application letter, using web resources,
etc.), explanations on labour regulations (outplacement, unemployment, employment
contract, pension), awareness-raising on discrimination, presentation of occupations
and sectors with potential, etc.; (ii) individual interviews with a FOREM
adviser (skills audit, career pathway, guidance on training, etc.); (iii) free
and open access to job-search tools (IT equipment with an internet connection,
telephone, specialised documentation, etc.). This measure will concern all 752
targeted workers, for a maximum duration of 24 months. FOREM will also carry
out specific activities to facilitate job-search and to overcome difficulties in
the redeployment process. This includes meetings between the redundant workers
and potential employers (job matching), company visits, meetings with
recruiters to prepare for job interviews, and exchanges of experience with other
workers who have already retrained or have found a job after a collective
redundancy. 
(2)         
Training and retraining:
–              
Integrated training: Different types of vocational training courses could be provided to
potentially all 752 targeted workers (depending on the type of course) either by
FOREM or by the centres de competences or IFAPME[20] . As an initial step, FOREM
staff will help each participant to define their work-related goals and guide
them towards one of three types of training module. Workers who could retrain for
an occupation similar to the one they held in Carsid could either follow a specific
or specialisation module (40 hours) to adapt their competences and bring them
up to date (e.g. lift truck operator, specific welding process, IT skills), or
a supplementary course leading to new qualifications (320 hours), which would
enable the workers to apply for jobs in a new occupation in the industrial
sector. For retraining into an entirely different sector of activity, workers could
follow an occupational training course (on average 960 hours) to acquire the
competences required for this occupation. At the end of each training module,
the new skills can be assessed and documented. Depending on the type of
training and the field of competences, participants will be awarded either a formal
certification of skills (i.e. a certificate of competence), a certificate of
attendance (for competences or occupations for which no formal certification
exists) or a validation of skills (for skills and competences acquired outside
formal training courses). The formal certification of skills is verified
through assessment tests which lead to the award of a ‘Certificate of Skills
Acquired through Training’ (Certificat des Compétences Acquises en Formation
– CECAF). The validation of skills is verified through assessment tests
which lead to the award of skills credentials (titres de compétences).
–              
Transfer of experience: Experienced workers can enhance their skills and know-how by
becoming teachers or trainers in technical education. A specific awareness-raising
and pre-training module will be developed by FOREM and the federations of the
various branches of technical education to encourage certain workers to train
to become vocational teachers. The module will include the provision of specific
information, technical support, meetings with practitioners and site visits. The
module will last for eight weeks and will target around 10 workers.
23.         These measures constitute
active labour market measures within the eligible actions defined by
Article 3 of the EGF Regulation. 
24.         The total costs of the measures
are estimated at EUR 1 823 869, which includes EUR 1 760 869
for personalised services and EUR 63 000 for implementing the EGF (3.5 %
of total costs). The total financial contribution
requested from the EGF is EUR 911 934 (50 % of total costs).
 Measures || Estimated number of targeted workers || Estimated cost per targeted worker (EUR)* || Total costs (EGF and national cofinancing) (EUR)* 
 Personalised services: ||   ||   ||   
 (1) Individual job-search assistance, case management, and general information services: ||   ||   ||   
 –    Redeployment (support / guidance / integration) || 752 || 1 803 || 1 355 569 
 (2) Training and retraining: ||   ||   ||   
 –    Integrated training || 752 || 535 || 402 300 
 –    Transfer of experience || 10 || 300 || 3 000 
 Subtotal: || – || – || 1 760 869 
 Expenditure for implementing the EGF: ||   ||   ||   
 1. Preparatory activities || – || – || 0 
 2. Management || – || – || 19 200 
 3. Information and publicity || – || – || 43 800 
 4. Control activities || – || – || 0 
 Subtotal: || – || – || 63 000 
 Total costs: || – || – || 1 823 869 
 EGF contribution (50 % of total costs) || – || – || 911 934 
 * Rounded figures. 
25.         The Belgian authorities have
confirmed that the measures are complementary with actions funded by the
Structural Funds and that appropriate mechanisms are in place to prevent double
financing.
Date on which the personalised
services to the targeted workers were started or are planned to start
26.         The Belgian authorities
started to provide the personalised services to the targeted workers on 1 October
2012. Expenditure on these measures is therefore eligible for a financial
contribution from the EGF from that date.
Procedures for consulting the social
partners
27.         The measures are the result
of many discussions and preparatory meetings held between August 2012 and
January 2013 among the various social partners involved. As mentioned above, the
trade unions are directly involved in the management of the Redeployment Unit
and in the implementation of certain measures.
28.         The Belgian authorities have
confirmed that the requirements laid down in national and EU legislation concerning
collective redundancies have been complied with.
Information on actions that are
mandatory by virtue of national law or pursuant to collective agreements
29.         Under Belgian federal
legislation[21],
companies that carry out collective redundancies must provide outplacement
services to the redundant workers. The duration of the outplacement services
must be of at least 30 hours over three months for workers under the age of 45 and
of at least 60 hours over six months for workers aged 45 and above. All non-temporary
workers must take part in such outplacement services, except in the case of specific
derogations. Under Walloon legislation[22],
workers’ representative organisations can ask FOREM to set up a Redeployment
Unit to provide support to the redundant workers. The decision by FOREM to set
up a Redeployment Unit is discretionary and it is not mandatory for employers
or for workers to take part in the measures carried out by a Redeployment Unit.
However, the services provided by Redeployment Units can be considered as
fulfilling the legal obligations regarding outplacement services.
30.         The Belgian authorities
have confirmed that:
–              
the financial contribution from the EGF will not
replace measures which are the responsibility of enterprises by virtue of national
law or collective agreements[23];
–              
the measures provide support for individual
workers and are not used for restructuring enterprises or sectors;
–              
the measures will not receive financial support
from other Union funds or financial instruments[24].
Management and control systems 
31.         The application contains a
detailed description of the management and control systems which specifies the
responsibilities of the bodies involved. A steering committee composed of all
the organisations involved in the implementation of the EGF measures ensures
overall follow-up and coordination. The financial contribution from the EGF
will be managed and controlled by the same bodies as for the ESF. One entity
within the ESF Agency of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation (formerly the French
Community of Belgium) will act as managing authority and another separate
entity within the ESF Agency will act as paying authority. The
Secretariat-General of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation will act as certifying
authority and FOREM will act as intermediary body.
Financing
32.         Article 12 of Council
Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 laying down the multiannual
financial framework for the years 2014-2020[25]
allows for the mobilisation of the EGF within the annual ceiling of
EUR 150 million (2011 prices) over and above the relevant
headings of the financial framework.
33.         Considering the maximum
possible amount of a financial contribution from the EGF and the scope for
reallocating appropriations, the Commission proposes to mobilise the EGF for
the total amount of the requested contribution (EUR 911 934), which
represents 50 % of the total costs of the proposed measures.
34.         The proposed decision to
mobilise the EGF will be taken jointly by the European Parliament and the
Council, as laid down in 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[26].
35.         The Commission presents
separately a transfer request in order to enter in the 2014 budget specific
commitment appropriations, as required under point 13 of the Interinstitutional
Agreement of 2 December 2013.
Source of payment appropriations
36.         Appropriations allocated to
the EGF budget line in the 2014 budget will be used to cover the amount of EUR 911 934.
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/2013/002 BE/Carsid from Belgium)
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE
COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the
Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EC)
No 1927/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of
20 December 2006 establishing the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund[27], and in particular
Article 12(3) 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[28],
and in particular point 13 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the
European Commission[29],
Whereas:
(1)       The European Globalisation
Adjustment Fund (EGF) was established to provide additional support for workers
made redundant as a result of major structural changes in world trade patterns
due to globalisation and to assist them with their reintegration into the
labour market.
(2)       The EGF shall not exceed a
maximum annual amount of EUR 150 million (2011 prices), as laid down in
Article 12 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 laying
down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020[30].
(3)       Belgium submitted an
application to mobilise the EGF, in respect of redundancies in the enterprise Carsid
SA, on 2 April 2013 and supplemented it by additional information up to 4 July
2014. This application complies with the requirements for determining the
financial contributions as laid down in Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1927/2006.
The Commission, therefore, proposes to mobilise an amount of EUR 911 934.
(4)       The EGF should, therefore,
be mobilised in order to provide a financial contribution for the application
submitted by Belgium,
HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
For the general budget of the European
Union for the financial year 2014, the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund
(EGF) shall be mobilised to provide the sum of EUR 911 934 in
commitment and payment appropriations.
Article 2
This Decision shall be published in the Official
Journal of the European Union.
Done at Brussels,
For the European Parliament                        For
the Council
The President                                                 The
President
[1]               OJ L 406, 30.12.2006, p. 1.
[2]               Carsid produced steel slabs intended for further
processing by plants belonging to the Duferco group in Belgium (mainly for the production of hot-rolled products and cold-rolled products used in
the construction, transport equipment and automotive sectors). Between 2006 and
2011 Carsid was part of a joint venture between Duferco and NLMK. This application
is therefore linked with application EGF/2013/007 BE/Hainaut steel
(Duferco-NLMK).
[3]               This application replaces application
EGF/2012/009 BE/Carsid which was withdrawn by the Belgian authorities.
[4]               Source: World Steel Association, Steel Statistical
Yearbook 2012.
[5]               Compound annual growth rate.
[6]               This statistical category includes ingots, billets,
blooms and slabs. 
[7]               cf. Communication from the Commission to the
Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the
Committee of Regions – Action Plan for a competitive and sustainable steel
industry in Europe (COM(2013) 407.
[8]               Source: Eurostat (online data code: lfsa_egan22d).
Data on employment by sector is not available at a more disaggregated level
than NACE Rev. 2 division level.
[9]               See EGF database, available at http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=582.

[10]             See draft Commission proposals on cases
EGF/2009/022 BG/Kremikovtsi (application rejected by the Commission), EGF/2012/010
RO/ Mechel (Decision COM(2014) 255 final of 7.5.2014), EGF/2013/007 BE Hainaut steel (Duferco-NLMK) (application presented to the Commission on 27 September
2013).
[11]             Case EGF/2010/007
AT/Steiermark / Niederösterreich. Decision
2011/652/EU of 27 September 2011 (OJ L 263, 7.10.2011, p. 9).
[12]             The other 187 workers either refused to register to
benefit from the redeployment measures or decided to request an exemption
(being over 58 years old or having more than 38 years of seniority).
[13]             Relevant major groups of the international standard
classification of occupations (ISCO-08).
[14]             Source: Steunpunt WSE.
[15]             Source: FOREM.
[16]             See paragraph 29.
[17]             The centres de compétences carry out training
activities, forward studies and awareness-raising activities on specific
occupations or sectors. The centres de compétences are set up in
partnership by the Walloon Region, FOREM, the social partners from the sectors
concerned, research centres, and universities.
[18]             See paragraph 29.
[19]             In their submission of 4 July 2014, the Belgian
authorities significantly amended the set of measures so as to correspond to
the actual status of implementation of the measures. Several measures which
were initially planned are now not included in the application. 
[20]             IFAPME (Institut wallon de Formation en Alternance et
des indépendants et Petites et Moyennes Entreprises) is a public training
institute that provides work-linked dual training in the form of
apprenticeships and specific courses for SME managers.
[21]             Arrêté
royal relatif à la gestion active des restructurations du 9 mars 2006
(Belgisch Staatsblad / Moniteur Belge, 31.3.2006, éd. 2, p. 18309).
[22]             Décret
de la Région wallonne relatif au plan d’accompagnement des reconversions du
29 janvier 2004 (Belgisch Staatsblad / Moniteur Belge, 10.3.2004,
p. 13547).
[23]             The financial contribution from the EGF will enable the
Belgian authorities to extend the provision of outplacement services beyond the
mandatory periods and to carry out additional measures. For calculating the
costs allocated to the EGF, the Belgian authorities will take into account the
measures carried out during the legal obligation period (this only relates to
the measure ‘Redeployment (support / guidance / integration)’. The number of
hours of outplacement services carried out during the mandatory period will be
deducted from the total number of hours of outplacement services that each
targeted beneficiary will have befitted from.
[24]             Financial support from the ESF was awarded under Axis
2.2 of the Convergence Operational Programme for 2008-2013 to a project (EnTrain
– En Transition-Reconversion-Accompagnement) which aimed to develop pedagogical
methods for Redeployment Units in general.
[25]             OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 884.
[26]             OJ C 373, 20.12.2013, p. 1.
[27]             OJ L 406, 30.12.2006, p. 1.
[28]             OJ C 373, 20.12.2013, p. 1.
[29]             OJ C […], […], p. […].
[30]             OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 884.