Decision (EU) 2015/1871 on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (application from Germany — EGF/2015/002 DE/Adam Opel)

What it is

to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to assist Germany following redundancies in its automotive industry. 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 Committee on Budgets adopted the report by Jens GEIER (S&D, DE) 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 6 958 623 in commitment and payment appropriations in order to assist Germany following redundancies in its automotive industry. 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. German application : Germany submitted application EGF/2015/002 DE/Adam Opel for a financial contribution from the EGF following 2 881 redundancies in Adam Opel AG, operating in the NACE Rev. 2 division 29 ('Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers') and 1 supplier. Members noted that the conditions set out in Article 4(1)(a) of the EGF Regulation are met. Therefore, Germany is entitled to a financial contribution of EUR 6 958 623 under that Regulation. Nature of the redundancies : manufacturers of small and medium-sized vehicles of the medium-price segment have been hit particularly hard and that Adam Opel AG, being one of the major players in the medium-price segment of small and medium-sized vehicles, has thus been hit particularly hard by the crisis. Furthermore, Adam Opel AG was disadvantaged by the owning enterprise General Motors, which allowed Opel to sell only within Europe, thus excluding Opel from emerging markets on other continents. Germany is of the opinion that austerity policies imposed in European countries contributed to the dramatic drop in sales by Opel/Vauxhall. A package of personalised services : Members noted that the German authorities decided to initiate the implementation of the personalised services to the affected workers on 1 January 2015, well ahead of the decision and even the application on the granting the EGF support for the proposed coordinated package. Germany is planning the following measures for the redundant workers covered by this application: (i) vocational training measures, (ii) career guidance, (ii) peer groups/workshops, business start-up advisory service, (iv) job search/job fairs, (v) mentoring and advisory services and training allowances. The coordinated package of…

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