Decision (EU) 2015/642 on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (application EGF/2014/015 GR/Attica publishing from Greece)

What it is

to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to assist Greece following redundancies in its publishing activities 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) over and above the relevant headings of the financial framework. 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 Lefteris CHRISTOFOROU (EPP, CY) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for an amount of EUR 3 746 700 in commitment and payment appropriations in order to assist Greece following redundancies in its publishing 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/2014/015 GR/Attica Publishing for a financial contribution from the EGF, following 705 redundancies in 46 enterprises operating in the NACE Rev. 2 division 58 (Publishing activities) in the NUTS 2 level region of Attica (EL 30) in Greece. Members noted that the conditions set out in Article 4(1)(b) of the EGF Regulation are met. Therefore, Greece is entitled to a financial contribution under that Regulation . Members 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 28 November 2014, well ahead of the decision on granting the EGF support for the proposed coordinated package. Nature of the redundancies : Members considered that the redundancies in the publishing sector of the Attica region are linked to the global financial and economic crisis, that, on the one hand, decreased the available household income, resulting in a huge drop of purchasing power and drastically reduced loans to enterprises and individuals due to the lack of cash in the Greek banks. They noted that these redundancies are expected to have huge negative impacts on the Attica region, which already has the largest number of all the unemployed people in Greece as compared to the other 12 regions. A package of personalised services : Members noted that the coordinated package of personalised services to be co-funded consists of occupational guidance, training, retraining and vocational training, specialised training and education, job-search, training and mobility allowances. They welcomed the fact that these services have been drawn up…

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