Answer given by Mr Andor on behalf of the Commission
27.5.2010
The Commission is aware of the negative consequences that business restructuring may have on the workers affected and their families, along with the region concerned. It does not, however, lie within the Commission’s competence to judge or interfere in decisions taken within businesses, unless these violate Community Law in some way.
The Commission recalls that the responsibility for employment policy lies primarily with Member States. However, the Commission has proposed a series of measures aimed at limiting the impact of the crisis on the social and employment situation in the EU. In this connection, under the European Economic Recovery Plan[1], the Commission has proposed i.a. to modify the rules of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund[2]. Furthermore, the Commission has proposed to modify regulation No 1083/2006 on the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Cohesion Fund[3] as regards certain provisions related to financial management to help speed up implementation of projects on the ground.
However, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, the selection of projects co-financed under the European Social Fund (ESF) is the responsibility of the Member State or the relevant regional managing authority under the conditions laid down in the operational programmes concerned. For further information, the Honourable Members should contact the authorities responsible for managing the ESF Operational Programme for Lazio for 2007‑13.
Furthermore, should workers be made redundant, the Member State may be able to apply for a contribution from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund to co-finance active labour market measures designed to reintegrate them into employment. The criteria for granting such a contribution include a minimum number of redundancies (500) within a four-month period, caused either by globalisation or by the economic crisis.
Lastly, the Commission reaffirms the need to anticipate and manage change in a socially responsible way so as to mitigate the possible consequences of any restructuring, in close partnership with the workers' representatives and other relevant stakeholders. The Commission also underlines the need to comply with the national legislation implementing EU Directives on information and consultation of workers that apply under such circumstances.
- [1] COM(2008)800 final.
- [2] COM(2008)867 final.
- [3] Council Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 of 11 July 2006 laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999, OJ L 210, 31.7.2006.