REPORT on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers – EGF/2022/000 TA 2022 – Technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission
3.3.2022 - (COM(2022)0025 – C9‑0025/2022 – 2022/0015(BUD))
Committee on Budgets
Rapporteur: José Manuel Fernandes
MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION
on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF/2022/000 TA 2022 - Technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission)
(COM(2022)0025 – C9‑0025/2022 – 2022/0015(BUD))
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2022)0025 – C9‑0025/2022),
– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/691 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 April 2021 on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013[1] (“EGF Regulation”),
– having regard to Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 2020/2093 of 17 December 2020 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021-2027[2], and in particular Article 8 thereof,
– having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 16 December 2020 between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management as well as on new own resources, including a roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources[3], (“Interinstitutional Agreement of 16 December 2020”), and in particular point 9 thereof,
– having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A9-0037/2022),
A. whereas the Union has set up legislative and budgetary instruments to provide additional support to workers who are suffering from the consequences of globalisation and of technological and environmental changes, such as changes in world trade patterns, trade disputes, significant changes in the trade relations of the Union or the composition of the internal market and financial or economic crises, as well as the transition to a low-carbon economy, or as a consequence of digitisation or automation;
B. whereas the Union’s assistance to displaced workers should be dynamic and made available as quickly and efficiently as possible, having due regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 16 December 2020 with respect to the adoption of decisions to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF);
C. whereas the Union had first extended the scope of the EGF to provide financial support in the case of any major restructuring event, and thus covering economic effects of the COVID-19 crisis;
D. whereas the adoption of the new EGF Regulation in 2021 further expanded the scope of the EGF to major restructuring events caused by the transition to a low-carbon economy or as a consequence of digitisation or automation, while also reducing the required threshold for the activation of the EGF from 500 dismissed workers to 200[4];
E. whereas Article 8(1) of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 sets the maximum annual amount for the EGF to EUR 186 million (in 2018 prices) and whereas Article 11(1) of the EGF Regulation provides that up to 0,5 % of that amount, can be made available for technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission;
F. whereas the Commission did not to request any technical assistance support in 2021 due to uncertainty concerning general operations, in particular events that would require physical presence, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic;
G. whereas technical assistance may consist of technical and administrative expenditure for the implementation of the EGF, such as preparatory, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities, as well as data gathering, including in relation to corporate information technology systems, communication activities and those enhancing the EGF’s visibility as a fund or with regard to specific projects and other technical assistance measures;
H. whereas the proposed amount of EUR 290 000 corresponds to approximately 0,14 % of the maximum annual budget available for the EGF in 2022;
1. Agrees with the measures proposed by the Commission to be financed as technical assistance in accordance with Article 11(1) and (4), as well as with Article 12(2), (3) and (4), of the EGF Regulation;
2. Welcomes the setting up of a dedicated website for the EGF and calls on the Commission to regularly update and expand it, in order to increase the visibility of European solidarity demonstrated by the EGF to the general public and increase the transparency of Union action;
3. Welcomes the continued work on the standardised procedures for EGF applications and management using the functionalities of the electronic data exchange system (Shared Fund Management Common System - SFC), which allows for the simplification and faster processing of applications, and better reporting;
4. Takes note that the Commission will use the available budget under the administrative support in holding meetings of the Expert Group of Contact Persons of the EGF, which includes two members from each Member State, and one seminar with the participation of the implementing bodies of the EGF and social partners in order to promote networking among Member States;
5. Calls on the Commission to continue to invite Parliament systematically to these meetings and seminars in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Framework Agreement on relations between Parliament and the Commission;
6. Calls on the Commission to adapt the best practices which were developed during the times of the COVID-19 pandemic, when appropriate and needed, and not to eliminate them altogether when the circumstances of the pandemic allow, but to use them as a basis for better working methods and exchanges;
7. Underlines the need to further strengthen the general awareness and the visibility of the EGF; points to the fact that such goal can be pursued by featuring the EGF in various Commission publications and audio-visual activities as provided for in Article 11(1) of the EGF Regulation;
8. Reminds applicant Member States of their key role in widely publicising the actions funded by EGF to the targeted beneficiaries, local and regional authorities, social partners, the media and the general public, as set out in Article 12 of the EGF Regulation;
9. Approves the decision annexed to this resolution;
10. 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;
11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution, including its annex, to the Council and the Commission.
ANNEX: DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF/2022/000 TA 2022 - 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) 2021/691 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 April 2021 on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013[5], and in particular Article 15(1) thereof,
Having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 16 December 2020 between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management, as well as on new own resources, including a roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources[6], and in particular point 9 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1)The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) aims to demonstrate solidarity and promote decent and sustainable employment in the Union by offering support to displaced workers and self-employed persons whose activity has ceased in the case of major restructuring events and assisting them in returning to decent and sustainable employment as soon as possible.
(2) The EGF is not to exceed a maximum annual amount of EUR 186 million (in 2018 prices), as laid down in Article 8 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093[7].
(3) Regulation (EU) 2021/691 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.
(4) The EGF should, therefore, be mobilised in order to provide the sum of EUR 290 000 for technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission.
(5) In order to minimise the time taken to mobilise the EGF, this decision should apply from the date of its adoption.
HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
For the general budget of the Union for the financial year 2022, the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers shall be mobilised to provide the amount of EUR 290 000 in commitment and payment appropriations.
Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It shall apply from [the date of its adoption].
Done at Brussels,
For the European Parliament For the Council
The President The President
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
I. Background
The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund has been created in order to provide additional assistance to workers suffering from the consequences of major structural changes in world trade patterns.
According to the provisions of Article 8(1) of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 2020/2093 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021-2027[8] and of Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 2021/691[9], the Fund may not exceed a maximum annual amount of EUR 186 million (2018 prices).
As concerns the procedure, according to point 9 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 16 December 2020 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management as well as on new own resources, including a roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources[10], in order to activate the Fund the Commission, in case of a positive assessment of an application, presents to the budgetary authority a proposal for mobilisation of the Fund and, at the same time, a corresponding request for transfer.
II. The Commission's proposal
On 25 January 2022, the Commission adopted a new proposal for a decision on the mobilisation of the EGF.
It concerns the mobilisation of EUR 290 000 from the Fund, covering technical assistance for the Commission. The objective of the technical assistance is to finance technical and administrative expenditure for the implementation of the EGF, such as preparatory, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities, as well as data gathering, including in relation to corporate information technology systems, communication activities and those enhancing the EGF’s visibility as a fund or with regard to specific projects and other technical assistance measures. According to Article 11(1) of the EGF Regulation, a maximum of 0.5% of the annual maximum amount of the EGF can be made available each year for technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission.
According to the Commission's proposal, the requested amount of EUR 290 000 represents approximately 0,14% of the annual maximum amount of the EGF and is intended to cover the following activities:
1. Expert Group meetings: The Expert Group of Contact Persons of the EGF, with two members from each Member State, will be holding its regular meetings (in the first and second half of 2022, and the first half of 2023). The EP should be invited to attend to the meetings according to current legislative framework.
2. Networking seminar: In addition, in order to promote networking among the Member States, the Commission will organise one seminar with the participation of the implementing bodies of the EGF and social partners. This will be scheduled the day preceding an Expert Group meeting in 2022.The EP should be invited to attend to the meetings according to current legislative framework.
3. Information activities: the EGF’s online presence2, 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 the EGF Regulation, will be regularly updated and expanded, with each new element being translated into all EU languages. General awareness of the EGF will be increased and its visibility promoted. The EGF will be covered in various Commission publications and audio-visual activities as provided for in Article 11(1) of the EGF Regulation.
4. Electronic data exchange system: The Commission is continuing its work on developing standardised procedures for EGF applications and case management, using the functionalities of the Shared Fund Management Common System (SFC). This allows applications under the EGF Regulation to be simplified, their processing sped up and various reports more easily extracted. The SFC interface is also facilitating the EGF financial operations. This includes in particular: (1) Maintenance of the SFC 2014-2020 application, and further development needed for the closure of cases; (2) Further development of the EGF 2021-2027 interface in SFC, in particular new functionalities and adjustments to align SFC with the requirements of the EGF Regulation 2021-2027.
5. Monitoring and data gathering: The Commission will collect data on applications received, funded and wound up, and measures proposed and implemented. This data will be made available on the website and compiled in appropriate form for future biennial reports.
III. Procedure
In order to mobilise the Fund, the Commission has submitted to the Budget Authority a transfer request for a global amount of EUR 290 000 from the EGF reserve (16 02 02 (payment appropriations)) and 30 04 02 (commitment appropriations) to the EGF budget line (16 01 01).
Your rapporteur estimates that this proposal is fully in line with similar proposals made in the last years. His draft report is therefore as much as possible based on the European Parliament report of 2020 (Rapporteur: Negrescu) as voted in committee and confirmed in plenary with some few additions. He would therefore like to invite his fellow Members to treat it accordingly and to pass it if possible without amendments for final approval to plenary.
INFORMATION ON ADOPTION IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE
Date adopted |
28.2.2022 |
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Result of final vote |
+: –: 0: |
34 1 3 |
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Members present for the final vote |
Anna Bonfrisco, Olivier Chastel, Lefteris Christoforou, David Cormand, Paolo De Castro, Andor Deli, José Manuel Fernandes, Eider Gardiazabal Rubial, Alexandra Geese, Vlad Gheorghe, Valentino Grant, Francisco Guerreiro, Eero Heinäluoma, Niclas Herbst, Monika Hohlmeier, Moritz Körner, Joachim Kuhs, Zbigniew Kuźmiuk, Hélène Laporte, Pierre Larrouturou, Camilla Laureti, Janusz Lewandowski, Margarida Marques, Silvia Modig, Siegfried Mureşan, Victor Negrescu, Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos, Andrey Novakov, Jan Olbrycht, Dimitrios Papadimoulis, Karlo Ressler, Bogdan Rzońca, Nicolae Ştefănuță, Nils Torvalds, Nils Ušakovs, Johan Van Overtveldt, Rainer Wieland, Angelika Winzig |
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Substitutes present for the final vote |
Elisabetta Gualmini, Petri Sarvamaa |
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FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE
34 |
+ |
ECR |
Bogdan Rzońca, Johan Van Overtveldt |
NI |
Andor Deli, Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos |
PPE |
Lefteris Christoforou, José Manuel Fernandes, Niclas Herbst, Monika Hohlmeier, Janusz Lewandowski, Siegfried Mureşan, Andrey Novakov, Jan Olbrycht, Karlo Ressler, Rainer Wieland, Angelika Winzig |
Renew |
Olivier Chastel, Vlad Gheorghe, Valérie Hayer, Moritz Körner, Nicolae Ştefănuță, Nils Torvalds |
S&D |
Paolo De Castro, Eider Gardiazabal Rubial, Elisabetta Gualmini, Eero Heinäluoma, Pierre Larrouturou, Margarida Marques, Victor Negrescu |
The Left |
Silvia Modig, Dimitrios Papadimoulis |
Verts/ALE |
Rasmus Andresen, David Cormand, Alexandra Geese, Francisco Guerreiro |
1 |
- |
ID |
Joachim Kuhs |
3 |
0 |
ID |
Anna Bonfrisco, Valentino Grant, Hélène Laporte |
Key to symbols:
+ : in favour
- : against
0 : abstention
- [1] OJ L 153, 3.5.2021, p. 48.
- [2] OJ L 433I, 22.12.2020, p. 11.
- [3] OJ L 433I, 22.12.2020, p. 28.
- [4] COM(2020)0442.
- [5] OJ L 153, 3.5.2021, p. 48.
- [6] OJ L 433 I, 22.12.2020, p. 29.
- [7] Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 of 17 December 2020 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027 (OJ L 433 I, 22.12.2020, p. 15).
- [8]OJ L 433I, 22.12.2020, p. 15.
- [9] OJ L 153, 3.5.2021, p. 48.
- [10] OJ L 433I, 22.12.2020, p. 28.