2014/697/EU: Decision 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 (EGF/2014/000 TA 2014 — Technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission)

What it is

to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to finance technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission. PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council. CONTENT: the rules applicable to financial contributions from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) are laid down in Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (2014-2020). In accordance with Article 11(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013, a maximum of 0.5% of the annual maximum amount of the EGF may be made available each year for technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission. The Committee on Budgets adopted the report by Liadh NÍ RIADA (GUE/NGL, IE) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, providing a total amount of EUR 330 000 in commitment and payment appropriations in the framework of technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission (EGF/2014/000 TA 2014). Members recalled that the European Union 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, dramatically aggravated by the economic, financial and social crisis, and to assist their reintegration into the labour market. They also recalled that the amount of EUR 330 000 proposed to be mobilised by the Commission for technical assistance in 2014 is below the maximum of 0.5% of the annual maximum amount of the EGF (EUR 150 million at 2011 prices) as laid down by Article 11(1) of the EGF Regulation. Technical assistance under the terms of the Regulation seek 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. It shall also include the provision of information and guidance for the Member States in using, monitoring and evaluating the EGF to the European and national social partners. Technical assistance 2014 : Members stated that the Commission requested that the EGF be mobilised to cover expenditures in relation to technical assistance in order to monitor applications received and paid and measures proposed and implemented, to expand the website and translate new elements in all Union languages, increase the visibility of EGF, produce publications and audio-visual tools, to create a knowledge base, to provide administrative and technical support to Member States and regional authorities and not requesting funds for evaluations in 2014. Against this background, Members called on the European Parliament to accept the measures proposed by the Commission. strengthen the importance of networking and exchange of information on the EGF: they support therefore the funding of the Expert Group of Contact Persons of the EGF as well as other networking activities among the Member States; publicise the actions funded by EGF to the targeted beneficiaries,…

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