2014/879/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/2014/009 EL/Sprider Stores, from Greece)

What it is

to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to assist Greece in dealing with redundancies in its retail 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 Victor NEGRESCU (S&D, RO) 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 7 290 900 in commitment and payment appropriations in order to assist Greece following redundancies in the retail 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. Greek application : Greece submitted application EGF/2014/009 EL/Sprider Stores for a financial contribution from the EGF, following the dismissal of 761 workers, with all of the 761 dismissed workers expected to participate in the measures, in Sprider Stores S.A., an enterprise which operated in the retail sector in the regions of Central Macedonia and Attica of Greece. The reference period was between 17 November 2013 and 17 March 2014. Members agreed with the Commission that the intervention criteria set out in Article 4(1)(a) of the EGF Regulation are met and that, therefore, Greece 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 Greek authorities decided to initiate the implementation of the personalised services to the affected workers on 1 September 2014, ahead of the final decision on granting the EGF support for the proposed coordinated package. Coordinated package of personalised services : 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 supports, training, retraining and vocational training, contribution to business start-up, job-search allowance and training allowance, mobility allowance. New EGF : Members noted that the income supports measures will be strictly limited to a maximum amount of 35% of the overall package of personalised measures, as set out in the EGF Regulation and that these actions are conditional on the active participation of the targeted beneficiaries in job-search or training…

Frequently asked