12.8.2011   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 236/164

A.

whereas the European Union has set up the appropriate legislative and budgetary instruments to provide additional support to workers who suffer from the consequences of major structural changes in world trade patterns and to assist their reintegration into the labour market,

B.

whereas the scope of the EGF was broadened for applications submitted from 1 May 2009 to include support for workers made redundant as a direct result of the global financial and economic crisis,

C.

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 17 May 2006 in respect of the adoption of decisions to mobilise the EGF,

D.

whereas Ireland has requested assistance in respect of cases concerning redundancies in Waterford Crystal and in three of its suppliers (Thomas Fennell Engineering Ltd, RPS Engineering Services, Abbey Electric) operating in the crystal sector (3),

E.

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

1.

Requests the institutions involved to make the necessary efforts to accelerate the mobilisation of the EGF;

2.

Recalls the institutions’ commitment to ensure a smooth and rapid procedure for the adoption of the decisions on the mobilisation of the EGF, providing one-off, time-limited individual support geared to helping workers who have suffered redundancies as a result of globalisation and the financial and economic crisis; emphasises the role that the EGF can play in the reintegration of the workers made redundant into the labour market;

3.

Stresses that, in accordance with Article 6 of the EGF Regulation, it should be ensured that the EGF supports the reintegration of the individual redundant workers into employment; reiterates that assistance from the EGF shall not replace actions which are the responsibility of companies by virtue of national law or collective agreements, nor measures restructuring companies or sectors;

4.

Notes that the information provided on the co-ordinated package of personalised services to be funded from the EGF includes a detailed information on the complementarity with actions funded by the Structural Funds, reiterates its call for the Commission to present a comparative evaluation of these data in the EGF's annual reports as well;

5.

Reminds the Commission that, in the context of mobilising the EGF, not to systematically transfer payment appropriations from the ESF, since the EGF was created as a separate specific instrument with its own objectives and deadlines;

6.

Recalls that the functioning and the added value of the EGF should be evaluated in the context of the general assessment of the programmes and other various instruments created by the IIA of 17 May 2006, within the process of the 2007-2013 multiannual financial framework mid-term review;

7.

Welcomes the new format of the Commission's proposal, presenting in its explanatory memorandum, clear and detailed information on the application, analysing the eligibility criteria and explaining the reasons which led to its approval, which is in line with the Parliament's requests;

8.

Approves the decision annexed to this resolution;

9.

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;

10.

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