5.8.2016   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 285/21

—

having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2014)0616 — C8-0173/2014),

—

having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (2014-2020) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1927/2006 (1) (EGF Regulation),

—

having regard to Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 (2), and in particular Article 12 thereof,

—

having regard to 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 (3) (IIA of 2 December 2013), and in particular point 13 thereof,

—

having regard to the trilogue procedure provided for in point 13 of the IIA of 2 December 2013,

—

having regard to the letter of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs,

—

having regard to the letter of the Committee on Regional Development,

—

having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A8-0024/2014),

A.

whereas the Union has 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,

B.

whereas the Union’s financial assistance to workers made redundant should be dynamic and made available as quickly and efficiently as possible, in accordance with the Joint Declaration of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission adopted during the conciliation meeting on 17 July 2008, and having due regard for the IIA of 2 December 2013 in respect of the adoption of decisions to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF),

C.

whereas the adoption of the EGF Regulation reflects the agreement reached between the Parliament and the Council to reintroduce the crisis mobilisation criterion, to increase Union financial contribution to 60 % of the total estimated cost of proposed measures, to increase efficiency for the treatment of EGF applications in the Commission and by the Parliament and the Council by shortening time for assessment and approval, to widen eligible actions and beneficiaries by introducing self-employed persons and young people and to finance incentives for setting up own businesses,

D.

whereas Ireland submitted application EGF/2014/007 IE/Andersen Ireland for a financial contribution from the EGF, following 171 redundancies in Andersen Ireland Limited, operating in the NACE Rev. 2 division 32 (‘Manufacture of jewellery, bijouterie and related articles’), during the reference period from 21 October 2013 to 21 February 2014,

E.

whereas the application fulfils the eligibility criteria set up by the EGF Regulation,

1.

Notes that the Irish authorities submitted the application under the intervention criteria of Article 4(2) of the EGF Regulation, derogating from the criteria of Article 4(1)(a), which requires at least 500 workers being made redundant or self-employed persons' activity ceasing, over a reference period of four months in an enterprise in a Member State;

2.

Agrees 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;

3.

Notes that the Irish authorities submitted the application for EGF financial contribution on 16 May 2014, and that its assessment was made available by the Commission on 3 October 2014; welcomes the speedy evaluation period of less than five months;

4.

Considers that the 171 redundancies in Andersen Ireland Limited are linked to major structural changes in world trade patterns due to globalisation, with the EU jewellery sector being outstripped four-fold by imports within 4 years (2008 to 2012), of which 95 % are from Asia;

5.

Notes that this is the first EGF application for workers made redundant in the sector of jewellery, bijouterie and related articles, a sector that also suffers from the increase in online sales and which could therefore be further weakened;

6.

Notes that these redundancies will further aggravate the unemployment situation in the region, as Andersen Ireland was a major employer in this mainly rural area which already had an unemployment rate (39,3 %) twice as high as the national average (19 %);

7.

Notes that, in addition to the redundant workers, the Irish authorities decided to provide personalised services co-financed by the EGF to up to 138 young people under the age of 25 not in employment, education or training (NEETs), increasing the number of targeted beneficiaries expected to participate in the measures to 276 persons; expresses its concerns about the uncertainty of the way the targeted NEETs are to be identified; calls on the Irish authorities to bear in mind the social criteria and to ensure that the selection of the recipients of EGF support fully respects the principles of non-discrimination and equal opportunities;

8.

Recalls that the proposed actions should be adapted to take into account the differences between the needs of dismissed workers and NEETs;

9.

Expects a separate list of financial measures for the targeted NEETs in the midterm review;

10.

Notes that training available for NEETs should be inclusive and should encompass all sections in society including disadvantaged groups;

11.

Welcomes 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;

12.

Notes that 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;

13.

Notes the fact that the coordinated package of personalised services has been drawn up in consultation with the targeted beneficiaries and the representatives of the targeted beneficiaries as well as the social partners and welcomes the intention to establish a consultative forum to complement the work of the EGF Co-ordination Unit in order to afford the redundant workers with the opportunity to input on an ongoing basis to the implementation of the EGF programme;

14.

Welcomes the setting-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 and NEETs;

15.

Welcomes that a local open day for both affected redundant workers and NEETs was held to showcase the range of supports available under the programme and to enable prospective EGF beneficiaries to discuss options with service providers;

16.

Notes 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 support, EGF Training Grants, training and second level education programmes, third level education programmes, skillsnets training support, enterprise/self-employment support, income support including course expense contributions;

17.

Welcomes the idea of the skillsnets training support action amongst the proposed actions, where training is geared at reintegration into employment in companies operating in the same industrial sector or geographical area;

18.

Notes that the income support 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;

19.

Notes the lack of clarity concerning the estimations of the amounts to be awarded as enterprise or self-employment support; considers that the number of actual beneficiaries may differ from the estimations resulting in a different distribution of the estimated total costs; points out the important role of the Local Enterprise Boards in providing soft services and hard support, and particularly in assessing the viability of the business proposals and granting the amounts of support, up to the maximum of EUR 15 000;

20.

Recalls that in line with Article 7 of the EGF Regulation, the design of the coordinated package of personalised services should anticipate future labour market perspectives and required skills and should be compatible with the shift towards a resource-efficient and sustainable economy;

21.

Welcomes that the principles of equality of treatment and non-discrimination will be respected in the access to the proposed actions and their implementation;

22.

Approves the decision annexed to this resolution;

23.

Instructs its President to sign the decision with the President of the Council and arrange for its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union;

24.

Instructs its President to forward this resolution, including its annex, to the Council and the Commission.