52014PC0366

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

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 of 17 December 2013 on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (2014-2020) and repealing Regulation (EC) 1927/2006 [1].

SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION AND ANALYSIS

Key data:

EGF Reference no.                                                                                             EGF/2014/000

European Commission                                                                                Technical assistance

Administrative expenditure: budget in EUR                                                                 330 000

% administrative expenditure (ceiling: 0,5 %)                                                                 0.21 %

In accordance with Article 11(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013, a maximum of 0.5 % of the annual maximum amount of the EGF may be made available each year for technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission.

Technical assistance to be funded and breakdown of its estimated costs

1.           The contribution will be used for expenditure mentioned in Articles 11(1) and (4) as well as 12(2),(3) and (4) of Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013, as detailed hereunder. It must be noted that, in 2014, expenditure has been reduced to a minimum, as funds will be credited to the relevant EGF budget line only after the European Parliament has resumed its meetings following the election break.

2.           Monitoring and data gathering: The Commission will collect data on applications received, paid and wound up, and measures proposed and implemented. This data will be made available on the web site and in the form of an updated Statistical Portrait. Building on the work of recent years, most of this can be done with the Commission's normal administrative resources, but some external expertise will be required to improve and secure the functionalities of the EGF database in accordance with the findings of the Commission's Internal Audit. The cost of these items is estimated at EUR 20,000.

3.           Information: The web site on the EGF[2], which the Commission has set up within its Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion area, and which it is maintaining as required under Article 12(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013, will be regularly updated and expanded, with each new element also being translated into all EU languages. Information on the new EGF Regulation will be produced, and the necessary guidance provided. General awareness of the EGF and its visibility will be encouraged. A small print run of the EGF ex-post evaluation will be made available together with an online publication. The EGF will be covered in various Commission publications and audio-visual activities as provided for in Article 11(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013. Costs of all these items are estimated at EUR 20,000 in 2014 due to the time limitations and are expected to rise significantly in 2015.

4.           Creation of a knowledge base / application interface: The Commission is continuing its work with a view to setting up an electronic application form and standardised procedures for EGF applications, which will allow applications under the new Regulation to be simplified, their processing to be speeded up and reports to be more easily extracted for varying needs. Preparations are ongoing with a view to integrating the EGF into SFC. Standardisation of final reports is continuing, with the objective of easing the administrative burden for the Member States.

The cost of these items is estimated at EUR 100,000.

5.           Administrative and technical support: The Expert Group of Contact Persons of the EGF, with one member from each Member State, will be holding two meetings (end of 2014 / first half of 2015), together estimated at EUR 70 000.

6.           In addition, the Commission will be organising networking among the Member States, with two seminars of EGF implementing bodies in the Member States around the same dates, focusing on issues arising with the interpretation of the new EGF Regulation, particularly as regards the possible inclusion of NEETs in the measures. The cost of these items is estimated at EUR 120 000.

7.           Evaluation: There will be no need to provide funds for evaluations in 2014. Public procurement for the mid-term evaluation will be launched in 2015, with a view to concluding the evaluation by 30 June 2017, as required by Article 20(1)(a) of Reguation (EU) 1309/2013.

Items || Estimated number || Estimated cost per item (in EUR) || Total costs (in EUR)

Monitoring and data gathering || Various || Various || 20 000

Information activities || Various || Various || 20 000

Creation of a knowledge base / application interface || Various || Various || 100 000

Administrative and technical support: Meetings of the Expert Group of Contact Persons of the EGF || 2 || 35 000 || 70 000

Administrative and technical support: Networking seminars on the implementation of the EGF || 2 || 60 000 || 120 000

Evaluation || 0 || 0 || 0

Total estimated costs || || 330 000

Financing

8.           The maximum annual budget available for the EGF is EUR 150 million (2011 prices), as laid down in Article 12 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020[3].

9.           Article 11(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013 states that 0,5 % of this amount (i.e. EUR 750 000 in 2011 prices) can be made available each year for technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission. Currently, the entire amount for 2014 remains available; nothing has yet been allocated to technical assistance.

10.         The proposed decision to mobilise the EGF will be taken jointly by the European Parliament and the Council, as laid down in point 13 of 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[4].

Related acts

11.         At the same time as it presents this proposal for a decision to mobilise the EGF, the Commission will present to the European Parliament and to the Council a proposal for a transfer to the relevant budgetary line for the amount of EUR 330 000.

Source of payment appropriations

12.         Appropriations from the EGF budget line will be used to cover the amount of EUR 330 000 needed for technical assistance.

Proposal for a

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF/2014/000 TA 2014 - Technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

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) 1927/2006[5], and in particular Article 11(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in point 13 of 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[6],

Whereas:

(1)       The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) was established to provide support for workers made redundant and self-employed persons whose activities have ceased as a result of major structural changes in world trade patterns due to globalisation, as a result of a continuation of the global financial and economic crisis addressed in Regulation (EC) No 546/2009, or as a result of a new global financial and economic crisis, and to assist them with their reintegration into the labour market.

(2)       The EGF shall not exceed a maximum annual amount of EUR 150 million (2011 prices), as laid down in Article 12 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020[7].

(3)       Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013 provides that a maximum of 0,5 % of the annual maximum amount of the EGF may be used each year for technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission. The Commission therefore proposes to mobilise an amount of EUR 330 000.

(4)       The EGF should, therefore, be mobilised in order to provide technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission.

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

For the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2014, the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) shall be mobilised to provide the sum of EUR 330 000 in commitment and payment appropriations.

Article 2

This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels,

For the European Parliament                        For the Council

The President                                                 The President

[1]               OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 855.

[2]               http://ec.europa.eu/egf

[3]               OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 884.

[4]               OJ C 373, 20.12.2013, p. 1.

[5]               OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 855.

[6]               OJ C 373, 20.12.2013, p. 1.

[7]               OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 884.