Globalisation Fund criteria

3.8.2016

Question for written answer E-006204-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Deirdre Clune (PPE)

I recently met with trade union leaders in my home constituency who have been frustrated in their attempts to access support from the European Globalisation Fund because of the strict eligibility criteria, specifically concerning the minimum number of redundancies and the timeframes laid down.

Ireland has a large pharmaceutical industry operating in the south of the country. Recently, one of these companies announced its intention to close its Irish operation due to global restructuring, but the nature of the pharmaceutical industry means that the wind-down of this plant will take place over four years. This automatically excludes the affected employees from applying via the competent authority for EGF assistance.

In this instance, the pharmaceutical plant is the single largest employer in that region and contributes EUR 20 million to the local economy in salaries alone. However, the number of redundancies involved is 240, well short of the minimum criterion. These job losses will nonetheless have a significant impact on the South-West region of Ireland.

Will the Commission review the intervention criteria in light of the difficulties experienced by specific industries in accessing the European Globalisation Fund?