2014/877/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 (application EGF/2014/007 IE/Andersen Ireland, from Ireland)

What it is

to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to assist Ireland in dealing with redundancies in its jewellery sector. PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council. CONTENT: Article 12 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 provides that the EGF shall not exceed a maximum annual amount of EUR 150 million (2011 prices). 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) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1927/2006 (the 'EGF Regulation'). The Committee on Budgets adopted the report by Ivan ŠTEFANEC (EPP, SK) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, to the amount of EUR 1 501 200 in commitment and payment appropriations in order to assist Ireland following redundancies in the jewellery sector. Members recalled that the 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 and to assist their reintegration into the labour market. Ireland application : Ireland submitted application EGF/2014/007 IE/Andersen Ireland for a financial contribution from the EGF, following 171 redundancies in Andersen Ireland Limited, during the reference period from 21 October 2013 to 21 February 2014. Members agreed with the Commission that the exceptional circumstances put forward by the Irish authorities, namely that the redundancies have a serious impact on regional employment and the local and regional economy, justify a derogation to the 500 redundancies threshold according to Article 4(2) of the EGF Regulation, and that, therefore, Ireland is entitled to a financial contribution under that Regulation . Members also welcomed the speedy evaluation by the Commission of less than five months. They welcomed the fact that, in order to provide workers with speedy assistance, the Irish authorities decided to initiate the implementation of the personalised services to the affected workers on 21 October 2013, well ahead of the final decision on granting the EGF support for the proposed coordinated package. Coordinated package of personalised services : the coordinated package of personalised services to be co-funded will seek to open the widest possible range of employment opportunities in an area where there are few expanding sectors or production sites and will require significant upskilling of the redundant workers. Members welcomed the set-up of an office of the EGF Co-ordination Unit in close proximity to the affected location which will serve as a one-stop shop for the workers. They noted that the personalised services which are to be provided to workers made redundant consist of the following actions which combine to form a co-ordinated package of personalised services: occupational guidance and career planning…

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