The European Social Fund (ESF) aims to promote employment opportunities of workers, inter alia by increasing the adaptability of workers to change and by supporting actions in Member States tackling unemployment. The ESF is implemented through national or regional operational programmes (OPs) according to the principle of shared management. The Commission would therefore invite the Honourable Members to contact the managing authorities competent for the OPs[1] of the Italian regions concerned to obtain information as to possibilities offered by each OP with a view to supporting the redundant workers to find a new job.

Regarding the European Globalisation adjustment Fund (EGF), since the beginning of 2012, only applications to support workers made redundant as a result of major structural changes in world trade patterns due to globalisation can be accepted. For the period of 2014-2020, the Commission has proposed to reintroduce a crisis criterion on a permanent basis as one of the grounds for potential EGF support.

Only Member States are eligible to apply for EGF support, although the initiative for an application may come from stakeholders. The Member State is responsible for the implementation, management and control of the support provided to the workers, but some of these responsibilities can be delegated to the regional or local level.

The EU's main potential supporting instruments are the ESF and the EGF. In addition, Member States often run their own programmes. The Commission does not possess detailed information on these, and it is best to contact the relevant Member State authorities directly.

• [1] http://ec.europa.eu/esf/main.jsp?catId=386&langId=en.

OJ C 65 E, 05/03/2014