21.10.2010   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 285/151

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 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 Fund,

C.

whereas Belgium and Ireland have requested assistance in respect of cases concerning redundancies in the textiles sector in the Belgian regions of East and West Flanders (3) and Limburg (4), and in the computer manufacturing industry in the Irish counties of Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary, as well as the city of Limerick (5),

D.

whereas both applications have fulfilled the eligibility criteria set up by the EGF Regulation,

E.

whereas in the case of the Irish application, supplementary information from the Commission has been requested by the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs,

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 Fund, providing one-off, time-limited individual support geared to helping workers who have suffered redundancies as a result of globalisation;

3.

Stresses that the European Union should use all its means to face the consequences of the global economic and financial crisis; emphasises that in this respect the EGF can play a crucial role in the reintegration of the 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 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;

5.

Reminds the Commission, in the context of mobilising the EGF, not to systematically transfer payment appropriations from the European Social Fund, 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 budget review;

7.

Notes that the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs has assessed the Commission's proposal and has no objections to raise in the case of Belgian applications, but has requested clarifications from the Commission in respect of the Irish application regarding the Dell case; draws attention, however, to paragraphs 1 to 6 of the opinion by that committee;

8.

Will evaluate the consequences of the Commission replies before taking its final decision both on the legal and budgetary instrument;

9.

Expects the Commission to take stock of the current difficulties and to present from now on its proposals for decisions on the mobilisation of the EGF in separate documents: one proposal for a decision per Member State application;

10.

Approves the decision annexed to this resolution;

11.

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;

12.

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