14.6.2013   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 168/157

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having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2011)0420 – C7-0193/2011),

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having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management (1) (IIA of 17 May 2006), and in particular point 28 thereof,

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having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1927/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on establishing the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (2) (EGF Regulation),

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having regard to the trilogue procedure as provided for in point 28 of the IIA of 17 May 2006,

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

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having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A7-0396/2011),

A.

whereas the European Union has set up the appropriate 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 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 France has requested assistance in respect of a case concerning 4 445 redundancies, of which 3 582 have been targeted for assistance, in the enterprise Renault s.a.s. and seven of its suppliers from the automotive industry,

E.

whereas France's application does not cover the Renault workers who opted for the early retirement scheme, and to whom the EGF aid could therefore not be allocated under Regulation (EC) No 1927/2006, but who have seen their pension rights altered by the pension reform which has come into force in the meantime; whereas the efforts made by all parties involved to find a viable solution so that those former Renault workers can complement their pension rights should be noted; whereas in this regard, the efforts made by the French government, as well as the written engagement made by Renault should be underlined; whereas the constructive dialogue between all parties concerned should be continued until a satisfactory solution is found;

F.

whereas the application fulfils the eligibility criteria laid down by the EGF Regulation,

1.

Requests the institutions involved to make the necessary efforts to improve procedural and budgetary arrangements in order to accelerate the mobilisation of the EGF; appreciates in this sense the improved procedure put in place by the Commission, following Parliament's request for accelerating the release of grants, aimed at presenting to the budgetary authority the Commission's assessment on the eligibility of an EGF application together with the proposal to mobilise the EGF; hopes that further improvements in the procedure will be made within the framework of the upcoming review of the EGF and that greater efficiency, transparency and visibility of the EGF will be achieved; takes note, however, of the lengthy assessment period in respect of this particular application for the mobilisation of the EGF for Renault s.a.s and seven of its suppliers;

2.

Notes that the first results on the efficiency of the measures targeting the dismissed workers should soon be available; notes that the success rates are a key indicator of the efficiency of the EGF and calls on the Commission for strong and close monitoring and guidance in ensuring that the training on offer matches the local economic trends;

3.

Recalls the institutions’ commitment to ensuring 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 workers made redundant into the labour market;

4.

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

5.

Notes that the information provided on the coordinated package of personalised services to be funded from the EGF includes information on the complementarity with actions funded by the Structural Funds; reiterates its call to the Commission to present a comparative evaluation of those data in its annual reports as well;

6.

Notes that following repeated requests from Parliament, for the first time the 2011 budget shows payment appropriations of EUR 47 608 950 on the EGF budget line 04 05 01; recalls that the EGF was created as a separate specific instrument with its own objectives and deadlines;

7.

Approves the decision annexed to this resolution;

8.

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

9.

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