European Parliament decision of 16 December 2014 electing the European Ombudsman (2014/2092(INS))

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular the third paragraph of Article 24 and Article 228 thereof,

–  having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 106a thereof,

–  having regard to its Decision 94/262/ECSC, EC, Euratom of 9 March 1994 on the regulations and general conditions governing the performance of the Ombudsman's duties(1),

–  having regard to Rule 219 of its Rules of Procedure,

–  having regard to the call for nominations(2),

–  having regard to its vote of 16 December 2014,

1.  Elects Emily O'REILLY to exercise the function of European Ombudsman until the end of the parliamentary term;

2.  Requests Emily O'REILLY to take an oath before the Court of Justice;

3.  Instructs its President to have the annexed decision published in the Official Journal of the European Union;

4.  Instructs its President to forward this Decision to the Council, the Commission and the Court of Justice.

ANNEX

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

of 16 December 2014

electing the European Ombudsman

(The text of this annex is not reproduced here since it corresponds to the final act, Decision 2014/949/EU, Euratom.)

(1) OJ L 113, 4.5.1994, p. 15. (2) OJ C 293, 2.9.2014, p. 13.

European Parliament legislative resolution of 16 December 2014 on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council repealing Council Directive 93/5/EEC of 25 February 1993 on assistance to the Commission and cooperation by the Member States in the scientific examination of questions relating to food (COM(2014)0246 – C8-0005/2014 – 2014/0132(COD))

P8_TA(2014)0074 A8-0059/2014

(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2014)0246),

–  having regard to Article 294(2) and Article 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C8‑0005/2014),

–  having regard to Article 294(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

–  having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee of 9 July 2014(1),

–  having regard to the undertaking given by the Council representative by letter of 26 November 2014 to approve Parliament’s position, in accordance with Article 294(4) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

–  having regard to Rules 59 and 50(1) of its Rules of Procedure,

–  having regard to the report of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (A8-0059/2014),

1.  Adopts its position at first reading hereinafter set out;

2.  Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it intends to amend its proposal substantially or replace it with another text;

3.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

Position of the European Parliament adopted at first reading on 16 December 2014 with a view to the adoption of Directive (EU) 2015/... of the European Parliament and of the Council repealing Council Directive 93/5/EEC on assistance to the Commission and cooperation by the Member States in the scientific examination of questions relating to food

(As an agreement was reached between Parliament and Council, Parliament's position corresponds to the final legislative act, Directive (EU) 2015/254.)

(1) Not yet published in the Official Journal.

European Parliament legislative resolution of 16 December 2014 on the draft Council decision concerning the accession of the European Union to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) (09412/2014 – C8-0042/2014 – 2013/0418(NLE))

P8_TA(2014)0075 A8-0036/2014

(Consent)

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the draft Council decision (09412/2014),

–  having regard to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES),

–  having regard to the request for consent submitted by the Council in accordance with Article 192(1) and Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a), of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (C8‑0042/2014),

–  having regard to Article 192(1), Article 207 and Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a), of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

–  having regard to the opinion of the Committee on Legal Affairs on the proposed legal basis,

–  having regard to Rule 99(1), first and third subparagraphs, Rule 99(2), Rule 108(7) and Rule 39 of its Rules of Procedure,

–  having regard to the recommendation of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (A8-0036/2014),

1.  Gives its consent to accession to the Convention;

2.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.

European Parliament legislative resolution of 16 December 2014 on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Cooperation Agreement on a Civil Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) between the European Community and its Member States and the Kingdom of Morocco (10437/2014 – C8-0108/2014 – 2013/0414(NLE))

P8_TA(2014)0076 A8-0045/2014

(Consent)

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to draft Council decision (10437/2014),

–  having regard to the draft Cooperation Agreement on a Civil Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) between the European Community and its Member States and the Kingdom of Morocco (10717/2006),

–  having regard to the request for consent submitted by the Council in accordance with Article 172 and Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a), of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (C8‑0108/2014),

–  having regard to Rule 99(1), first and third subparagraphs, Rule 99(2), Rule 108(7) and Rule 50(1) of its Rules of Procedure,

–  having regard to the recommendation of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (A8-0045/2014),

1.  Gives its consent to conclusion of the Agreement;

2.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States and of the Kingdom of Morocco.

European Parliament legislative resolution of 16 December 2014 on the draft Council decision concerning the renewal of the Agreement on cooperation in science and technology between the European Community and Ukraine (11047/2014 – C8-0114/2014 – 2014/0154(NLE))

P8_TA(2014)0077 A8-0039/2014

(Consent)

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the draft Council decision concerning the renewal of the Agreement on cooperation in science and technology between the European Community and Ukraine (11047/2014),

–  having regard to the Agreement on cooperation in science and technology between the European Community and Ukraine(1),

–  having regard to the request for consent submitted by the Council in accordance with Article 186 and Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a)(v), of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (C8‑0114/2014),

–  having regard to Rule 99(1), first and third subparagraphs, Rule 99(2), Rule 108(7) and Rule 50(1) of its Rules of Procedure,

–  having regard to the recommendation of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (A8-0039/2014),

1.  Gives its consent to renewal of the agreement;

2.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States and of Ukraine.

(1) OJ L 36, 12.2.2003, p. 32.

European Parliament legislative resolution of 16 December 2014 on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of an Agreement on the participation of the Republic of Croatia in the European Economic Area, and of three related agreements (06698/2014 – C8-0002/2014 – 2014/0047(NLE))

P8_TA(2014)0078 A8-0026/2014

(Consent)

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the draft Council decision (06698/2014),

–  having regard to the Agreement on the participation of the Republic of Croatia in the European Economic Area and three related agreements (06696/2014),

–  having regard to the request for consent submitted by the Council in accordance with Articles 217, 218(6) and the second subparagraph of Article 218(8) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (C8-0002/2014),

–  having regard to Rule 99(1), first and third subparagraphs, Rule 99(2), and Rule 108(7) of its Rules of Procedure,

–  having regard to the recommendation of the Committee on International Trade (A8-0026/2014),

1.  Gives its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement and of the three related agreements;

2.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States and of the Republic of Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Kingdom of Norway.

European Parliament legislative resolution of 16 December 2014 on the proposal for a Council decision concerning the dock dues in the French outermost regions (COM(2014)0666 – C8-0242/2014 – 2014/0308(CNS))

P8_TA(2014)0079 A8-0054/2014

(Special legislative procedure – consultation)

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2014)0666),

–  having regard to Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C8‑0242/2014),

–  having regard to Rules 59 and 50(1) of its Rules of Procedure,

–  having regard to the report of the Committee on Regional Development (A8-0054/2014),

1.  Approves the Commission proposal;

2.  Calls on the Council to notify Parliament if it intends to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

3.  Asks the Council to consult Parliament again if it intends to substantially amend the text approved by Parliament;

4.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

European Parliament resolution of 16 December 2014 on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, in accordance with point 13 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management (application EGF/2014/010 IT/Whirpool, from Italy) (COM(2014)0672 – C8-0231/2014 – 2014/2170(BUD))

P8_TA(2014)0080 A8-0064/2014

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2014)0672 – C8‑0231/2014),

–  having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (2014-2020) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1927/2006(1) (EGF Regulation),

–  having regard to Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020(2), and in particular Article 12 thereof,

–  having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management(3) (IIA of 2 December 2013), and in particular point 13 thereof,

–  having regard to the trilogue procedure provided for in point 13 of the IIA of 2 December 2013,

–  having regard to the letter of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs,

–  having regard to the letter of the Committee on Regional Development,

–  having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A8-0064/2014),

A.  whereas the Union has set up legislative and budgetary instruments to provide additional support to workers who are suffering 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 to the IIA of 2 December 2013 in respect of the adoption of decisions to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF),

C.  whereas the adoption of the EGF Regulation reflects the agreement reached between the Parliament and the Council to reintroduce the crisis mobilisation criterion, to increase the Union financial contribution to 60 % of the total estimated cost of proposed measures, to increase efficiency for the treatment of EGF applications in the Commission and by the Parliament and the Council by shortening the time for assessment and approval, to widen eligible actions and beneficiaries by introducing self-employed persons and young people and to finance incentives for setting up own businesses,

D.  whereas the Italian authorities submitted application EGF/2014/010 IT/Whirlpool on 18 June 2014 following the dismissal of 608 workers in Whirlpool Europe S.r.l., an enterprise which operated in the economic sector classified under NACE Rev. 2 division 27 ('Manufacture of electrical equipment'), and five providers and downstream producers,

E.  whereas the application fulfils the eligibility criteria set up by the EGF Regulation,

1.  Notes that the Italian authorities submitted the application under the intervention criterion of Article 4(1)(a) of the EGF Regulation, which requires at least 500 workers being made redundant or self-employed persons' activity ceasing, over a reference period of four months in an enterprise in a Member State, including workers made redundant or self-employed persons' activity ceasing in its suppliers and downstream producers; agrees with the Commission that the conditions set out in that Regulation are met and that, therefore, Italy is entitled to a financial contribution under that Regulation;

2.  Notes that the Italian authorities submitted the application for EGF financial contribution on 18 June 2014, and that its assessment was made available by the Commission on 28 October 2014; welcomes the Commission's compliance with the tight deadline of 12 weeks set out in the EGF Regulation;

3.  Notes that the Italian authorities argue that the global financial and economic crisis has had a profound effect on the consumption choices of Italian households which have reconsidered their buying decisions, in particular those related to buying durable goods, including domestic appliances;

4.  Highlights that, due to the financial and economic crisis resulting in a significant decline in household consumption, the Italian market for big household appliances has dropped from EUR 3 174 billion in 2010 to EUR 2 649 billion in 2013, representing a decline of 16,5 %;

5.  Agrees that the sharp decline in the production of electrical equipment over the period 2008-2012 is linked to the global financial and economic crisis addressed in Regulation (EC) No 546/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council(4) and that Italy is therefore entitled to EGF financial contribution;

6.  Notes that, to date, the 'Manufacture of electrical equipment' sector has been the subject of two other EGF applications(5), also based on the global financial and economic crisis;

7.  Notes that these redundancies will further aggravate the unemployment situation in the province of Trento, where the unemployment rate has doubled since the beginning of the crisis, rising from 2,9 % in 2007 to 6,1 % in 2013; underlines that the decline in employment has affected both the construction (-10,3 %) and the industry (-2,4 %) sectors and that in Trentino the number of unemployed, surveyed by ISTAT in the first quarter of 2014, is approximately 18 700, while the number of those registered in the employment offices  of the Province is about 41 800;

8.  Notes that, in addition to the 502 redundancies in Whirlpool, considered as the primary enterprise, within the reference period, 106 workers made redundant in five suppliers and downstream producers are also included in the number of eligible beneficiaries, which amounts to 608 persons in total, all of them being counted as targeted beneficiaries of the EGF measures;

9.  Notes that the estimated total costs are EUR 3 150 000, out of which EUR 126 000 is dedicated to implementation, and that the financial contribution from the EGF amounts to EUR 1 890 000, which represents 60 % of the total costs;

10.  Welcomes the fact that, in order to provide workers with speedy assistance, the Italian authorities decided to initiate the implementation of the personalised services to the affected workers on 4 February 2014, ahead of the final decision on the granting of EGF support for the proposed coordinated package and even of the application for a financial contribution from the EGF;

11.  Welcomes the fact that social partners were involved in negotiating the measures to be supported; appreciates furthermore that trade unions are involved in the monitoring of the implementation and possible redesign of the measures, as well as being associated with the evaluation of the results; welcomes also the fact that the planned measures, their content and relevant aspects of their implementation (including the timeline) were presented and discussed with the former workers of the Whirpool plant of Spini di Gargarolo during several meetings (15 in total) held between February and March 2014 and that, of the total number of workers participating in these meetings, 393 have registered as participants in these measures;

12.  Notes that the personalised services which are to be provided consist of: information sessions, intake and registration, counselling and guidance, skills assessment, general training and re-training, vocational training, coaching, accompaniment after reintegration into work and accompaniment towards entrepreneurship, job search allowances, participation allowances and contributions to commuting expenses and hiring benefits;

13.  Notes that 16,78 % of the targeted beneficiaries are non-EU citizens; considers that certain elements of the coaching activity could be particularly useful in helping those beneficiaries to re-integrate into the labour market;

14.  Advocates for assessing the concrete results of training, re-training and vocational activities provided to the participants in order to have a better view on the efficiency of the measures provided;

15.  Welcomes the measures of accompaniment after reintegration into work and accompaniment towards entrepreneurship;

16.  Considers that the hiring benefit serves as an incentive to new employers to re-employ the participants under permanent or at least 12-month contracts; notes that less than half (250) of all beneficiaries are estimated to participate in this measure;

17.  Welcomes that the principles of equality of treatment and non-discrimination will be respected in the access to the proposed actions and their implementation;

18.  Recalls that, in line with Article 7 of the EGF Regulation, the design of the coordinated package of personalised services should anticipate future labour market perspectives and required skills and should be compatible with the shift towards a resource-efficient and sustainable economy;

19.  Approves the decision annexed to this resolution;

20.  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;

21.  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, in accordance with point 13 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management (application EGF/2014/010 IT/Whirlpool, from Italy)

(The text of this annex is not reproduced here since it corresponds to the final act, Decision (EU) 2015/42.)

(1) OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 855. (2) OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 884. (3) OJ C 373, 20.12.2013, p. 1. (4) Regulation (EC) No 546/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009 amending Regulation (EC) No 1927/2006 on establishing the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, OJ L 167, 29.6.2009, p. 26. (5) EGF/2009/010 LT AB Snaige COM(2010)0008, EGF/2011/023 IT Antonio Merloni COM(2013)0090.

European Parliament resolution of 16 December 2014 on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, in accordance with point 13 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management (application EGF/2013/006 PL/Fiat Auto Poland S.A., from Poland) (COM(2014)0699 – C8-0243/2014 – 2014/2181(BUD))

P8_TA(2014)0081 A8-0062/2014

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2014)0699 – C8‑0243/2014),

–  having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1927/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on establishing the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund(1) (EGF Regulation),

–  having regard to Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020(2), and in particular Article 12 thereof,

–  having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management(3) (IIA of 2 December 2013), and in particular point 13 thereof,

–  having regard to the trilogue procedure provided for in point 13 of the IIA of 2 December 2013,

–  having regard to the letter of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs,

–  having regard to the letter of the Committee on Regional Development,

–  having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A8-0062/2014),

A.  whereas the Union has set up legislative and budgetary instruments to provide additional support to workers who are suffering 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 to the IIA of 2 December 2013 in respect of the adoption of decisions to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF),

C.  whereas the adoption of Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013(4) reflects the agreement reached between the Parliament and the Council to reintroduce the crisis mobilisation criterion, to increase the Union financial contribution to 60 % of the total estimated cost of proposed measures, to increase efficiency for the treatment of EGF applications in the Commission and by the Parliament and the Council by shortening the time for assessment and approval, to widen eligible actions and beneficiaries by introducing self-employed persons and young people and to finance incentives for setting up own businesses,

D.  whereas Poland submitted application EGF/2013/006 PL/Fiat for a financial contribution from the EGF, following 1079 redundancies, 829 in Fiat Auto Poland and 250 from 21 suppliers and downstream producers, with 777 persons expected to participate in EGF measures, linked to a decrease in production at the Tychy plant of Fiat Auto Poland S.A. (‘Tychy plant of Fiat’) located in the province of Slaskie, Poland, during the reference period from 21 January 2013 to 21 May 2013,

E.  whereas the application fulfils the eligibility criteria laid down in the EGF Regulation,

1.  Notes that the conditions set out in Article 2(a) of the EGF Regulation are met, therefore agrees with the Commission that Poland is entitled to a financial contribution under that Regulation;

2.  Notes that the Polish authorities submitted the application for EGF financial contribution on 29 July 2013, supplemented it by additional information up to 16 June 2014 and that its assessment was made available by the Commission on 10 November 2014;

3.  Welcomes the fact that, in order to provide workers with speedy assistance, the Polish authorities decided to initiate the implementation of the personalised services to the affected workers on 21 January 2013, well ahead of the decision on the granting of EGF support for the proposed coordinated package;

4.  Notes that the European automotive industry has lost market share since 2007, when European passenger car production accounted for 32,2 % of global production, a percentage which fell to 23,2 % in 2012; highlights, furthermore, the decrease in EU-27 production by 7 % from 2011 to 2012, while world production levels increased by 5,3 %, in the same period; stresses that the situation was even worse at national level where production volume decreased by almost a third in 2012 compared to 2011 levels;

5.  Consequently agrees with the Commission that the redundancies in the Tychy plant of Fiat and its suppliers and downstream producers are linked to major structural changes in world trade patterns due to globalisation; underlines that the impact of globalisation has been worsened by the effect of the financial crisis, which has reduced the sales of new passenger cars in the Union to the lowest level since records began;

6.  Notes that the redundancies at the Tychy plant of Fiat are expected to have a negative impact on the region, as the former workers of Fiat Auto Poland, suppliers and downstream producers represent 10 % of all the unemployed people living in the area;

7.  Points out that the unemployment rate in Slaskie region has risen since 2011; notes, moreover, an increase in collective redundancies in the region that almost doubled between 2011 and 2012;

8.  Notes that, to date, the automotive sector has been the subject of 21 EGF applications, of which 12 are based on trade related globalisation, while the other 9 are based on the crisis criterion;

9.  Notes that the coordinated package of personalised services to be co-funded includes the following measures for the reintegration of 777 redundant workers into employment: training and training related costs, entrepreneurial training, training scholarships, internship scholarships, internship costs, intervention works, grants for self-employment, hiring incentives;

10.  Notes that the provision of grants for self-employment (up to EUR 4 995 per worker) is conditional and is linked to the success of the self-employed activity; points out that this conditionality should not discourage participants from applying for this support measure;

11.  Notes that the implementation of the personalised services was completed at the end of 2013 and that, according to the provisional data, 269 persons participated in 313 different activities in the framework of the package, out of which 219 persons have found employment as a result of the provided support;

12.  Notes that, according to the provisional data, the total cost of the implementation of the personalised services was significantly lower than the estimated one due to the reduced number of workers who participated in the services;

13.  Stresses that despite the lower than initially estimated number of workers participating in the actions, according to the provisional data, the number of unemployed workers covered by the package still registered in the Labour Office amounts to 85, which proves that the vast majority of the workers affected by the redundancies in Fiat Auto Poland have found employment;

14.  Welcomes the fact that the Regional Employment Council was involved in the preparation of the application of the EGF and its role in deciding the package of activities of the project;

15.  Recalls the importance of improving the employability of all workers by means of adapted training and the recognition of skills and competences gained throughout a worker's professional career; expects the training on offer in the coordinated package to be adapted not only to the needs of the dismissed workers but also to the actual business environment; believes that the design of the coordinated package of personalised services should anticipate future labour market perspectives and required skills and should be compatible with the shift towards a resource-efficient and sustainable economy;

16.  Stresses that, in accordance with Article 6 of the EGF Regulation, it shall be ensured that the EGF supports the reintegration of individual redundant workers into stable employment; stresses, furthermore, that EGF assistance can co-finance only active labour market measures which lead to durable, long-term employment; reiterates that assistance from the EGF must not replace actions which are the responsibility of companies by virtue of national law or collective agreements nor measures restructuring companies or sectors;

17.  Welcomes that, among other measures, intervention work specifically targets the group of workers over 50 years of age which constitutes a significant proportion of the beneficiaries; notes that this age group is at a higher risk of prolonged unemployment and exclusion from the labour market;

18.  Underlines the high level of older people and people with lower qualifications affected by the redundancies which represent 18,7 % and 62,6 % respectively of all affected workers; calls for special attention for those two groups and for special EGF measures targeted at them;

19.  Considers that the six workers with longstanding health problems or disabilities may have specific needs when it comes to providing them with a personalised approach;

20.  Welcomes the fact that the principle of equality between women and men as well as of non-discrimination has been, and will continue to be, applied during the various stages of implementation of and access to the EGF measures;

21.  Notes that on 20 December 2012, Fiat Auto Poland reached an agreement with the trade unions by which they set the criteria for the selection of workers to be made redundant and agreed on the incentives that would be granted to workers who agreed to leave the firm voluntarily;

22.  Notes that the information provided on the coordinated package of personalised services to be funded from the EGF includes information on complementarity with actions funded by the Structural Funds; stresses that the Polish authorities confirm that the eligible actions do not receive assistance from other Union financial instruments; reiterates its call to the Commission to present a comparative evaluation of those data in its annual reports in order to ensure full respect for the existing regulations and that no duplication of Union-funded services can occur;

23.  Approves the decision annexed to this resolution;

24.  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;

25.  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, in accordance with point 13 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management (application EGF/2013/006 PL/Fiat Auto Poland S.A., from Poland)

(The text of this annex is not reproduced here since it corresponds to the final act, Decision (EU) 2015/41.)

(1) OJ L 406, 30.12.2006, p. 1. (2) OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 884. (3) OJ C 373, 20.12.2013, p. 1. (4) Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (2014-2020) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1927/2006 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 855).

European Parliament resolution of 16 December 2014 on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, in accordance with point 13 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management (application EGF/2014/013 EL/Odyssefs Fokas, from Greece) (COM(2014)0702 – C8-0245/2014 – 2014/2183(BUD))

P8_TA(2014)0082 A8-0063/2014

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2014)0702 – C8‑0245/2014),

–  having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (2014-2020) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1927/2006(1) (EGF Regulation),

–  having regard to Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020(2), and in particular Article 12 thereof,

–  having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management(3) (IIA of 2 December 2013), and in particular point 13 thereof,

–  having regard to the trilogue procedure provided for in point 13 of the IIA of 2 December 2013,

–  having regard to the letter of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs,

–  having regard to the letter of the Committee on Regional Development,

–  having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A8-0063/2014),

A.  whereas the Union has set up legislative and budgetary instruments to provide additional support to workers who are suffering from the consequences of major structural changes in world trade patterns or that of a global financial and economic crisis and to assist the reintegration of those workers into the labour market,

B.  whereas the Union’s financial assistance to workers who have been 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 to the IIA of 2 December 2013 in respect of the adoption of decisions to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF),

C.  whereas the adoption of the EGF Regulation reflects the agreement reached between the Parliament and the Council to reintroduce the crisis mobilisation criterion, to set the Union financial contribution to 60 % of the total estimated cost of the proposed measures, to increase efficiency for the treatment of EGF applications in the Commission and by the Parliament and the Council by shortening the time for assessment and approval, to widen eligible actions and beneficiaries by introducing self-employed persons and young people and to finance incentives for setting up own businesses,

D.  whereas the Greek authorities submitted application EGF/2014/013 EL/Odyssefs Fokas on 29 July 2014 following the dismissal of 551 workers in Odyssefs Fokas S.A., an enterprise which operated in the economic sector classified under NACE Rev. 2 division 47 ('Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles'),

E.  whereas the application fulfils the eligibility criteria set up by the EGF Regulation,

1.  Welcomes the fact that the Greek authorities take into consideration the great benefits of this budgetary instrument and have already made use of it several times as a means to tackle negative effects of the financial and economic crisis;

2.  Notes that the Greek authorities submitted the application under the intervention criterion of point (a) of Article 4(1) of the EGF Regulation, which requires at least 500 workers being made redundant or self-employed persons' activity ceasing, over a reference period of four months in an enterprise in a Member State, including workers made redundant or self-employed persons' activity ceasing in its suppliers and downstream producers;

3.  Notes that the Greek authorities submitted the application for an EGF financial contribution on 29 July 2014, and that its assessment was made available by the Commission on 11 November 2014; welcomes the speedy evaluation procedure of less than five months;

4.  Notes that the Greek authorities argue that there were primarily two events giving rise to the redundancies: the decrease in available household income – due to the increase in the tax burden, decreasing salaries (of both private and public employees) and rising unemployment – resulting in a huge drop in purchasing power; and the drastic reduction in loans to enterprises and individuals due to the lack of cash in the Greek banks;

5.  Agrees that these factors are linked to the global financial and economic crisis addressed in Regulation (EC) No 546/2009(4) and that Greece is therefore entitled to an EGF contribution;

6.  Notes that to date, the retail sector has been the subject of another three EGF applications, two of them from Greece, which were also based on the global financial and economic crisis;

7.  Notes that these redundancies will further aggravate the unemployment situation in a country where, during the period 2008-2013, the number of unemployed people increased four-fold and which presents the highest unemployment rate among Member States and the fifth highest worldwide; is especially concerned about the regions of Attica and Central Macedonia, in which 90 % of the redundancies are concentrated and which already have unemployment rates above the national average of 27,5 %;

8.  Notes that in addition to the 551 redundancies within the reference period, 49 workers dismissed before the reference period of four months are also included in the number of eligible beneficiaries, which amounts in total to 600 persons; notes that 89,17 % of the redundant workers eligible for EGF support are women;

9.  Welcomes that, additionally, the Greek authorities will provide personalised services co-financed by the EGF for up to 500 young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs) under the age of 30 on the date of submission of the application, given that all of the redundancies referred to in paragraph 8 occur in the NUTS level 2 regions of Κεντρική Μακεδονία (Central Macedonia) (EL12), Θεσσαλία (Thessaly) (EL14) and Aττική (Attica) (EL30), which are eligible under the Youth Employment Initiative, hence the total number of beneficiaries is 1100;

10.  Notes that the Greek authorities decided to provide personalised services co-financed by the EGF to up to 500 NEETs under the age of 30; notes that, according to the application, the Greek authorities will use – among others – criteria aligned with the criteria included in the Greek Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan (i.e. young people at risk of exclusion, level of household income, education level, duration of unemployment, etc.), as well as expressions of interest; calls on the Greek authorities to bear in mind the social criteria and to ensure that the selection of the recipients of EGF support fully respects the principles of non-discrimination and equal opportunities;

11.  Supports the social criteria applied by the Greek authorities to identify the NEETs to be targeted by EGF measures, taking into account data on household income, education level and duration of unemployment; calls for the selection of the recipients to fully respect the principles of non-discrimination so as to give opportunities to those furthest away from the labour market;

12.  Calls on the Greek authorities to provide detailed information on the funded actions and outcomes in view of sharing best practices, especially with regard to the selection of and support provided to NEETs;

13.  Notes that the estimated total costs are EUR 10 740 000, of which EUR 210 000 is dedicated to implementation, and that the financial contribution of the EGF amounts to EUR 6 444 000, which represents 60 % of the total costs;

14.  Notes that the contribution for preparatory activities, management, information and publicity, and control and reporting constitutes 1,96 % of the total budget; notes furthermore that it is planned to use almost half of this contribution for information and publicity;

15.  Welcomes the fact that, in order to provide workers with speedy assistance, the Greek authorities decided to initiate the implementation of the personalised services to the affected workers on 20 October 2014, ahead of the final decision on the granting of EGF support for the proposed coordinated package;

16.  Notes that the Greek authorities have indicated that the co-ordinated package of personalised services has been drawn up in consultation with representatives of the targeted beneficiaries (former Fokas employees and lawyers of the employees) and the Federation of Private Employees in Greece;

17.  Notes that the personalised services which are to be provided have been designed to take into account the specific needs of NEETs and consist of the following measures: occupational guidance, training, retraining and vocational training, contributions to business start-ups, job-search allowances, training allowances and mobility allowances;

18.  Underlines the importance of personalised services that aim to help the targeted beneficiaries to identify their skills and to establish a realistic career plan based on their interests and qualifications;

19.  Welcomes that monitoring is included among the measures proposed, providing for a follow-up of the participants during the six months that follow the end of the implementation of the measures;

20.  Notes that most of the requested funds are to support contribution to business start-ups (EUR 3 000 000) and training measures (EUR 2 960 000);

21.  Notes that the maximum eligible amount of EUR 15 000 will be granted to up to 200 selected workers and NEETs as a contribution to setting up their own businesses; underlines that the aim of this measure is to promote entrepreneurship by providing funding to viable business initiatives, which should result in the creation of further workplaces in the medium term; notes that this maximum eligible amount will be granted subject to specific conditions and the viability of the supported business start-ups;

22.  Emphasises the genuine added value and recommends the offer of active labour market measures; notes that approximately one third of the planned support consists of allowances and thus passive labour market measures;

23.  Notes that the cost of the training measures in this application is at a comparable level with previous applications from Greece; points out that there is a variation in these costs in similar applications from other Member States;

24.  Calls on the European Social Fund (ESF) measures planned within the new ESF programming period to complement the EGF plan and to facilitate the workers' reintegration into future-oriented and sustainable economic sectors; recalls that, in line with Article 7 of the EGF Regulation, the design of the coordinated package of personalised services supported by the EGF should anticipate future labour market perspectives and required skills and should be compatible with the shift towards a resource-efficient economy;

25.  Welcomes that the principles of equality of treatment and non-discrimination will be respected in the access to the proposed actions and their implementation;

26.  Approves the decision annexed to this resolution;

27.  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;

28.  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, in accordance with point 13 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management (application EGF/2014/013 EL/Odyssefs Fokas, from Greece)

(The text of this annex is not reproduced here since it corresponds to the final act, Decision (EU) 2015/43.)

(1) OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 855. (2) OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 884. (3) OJ C 373, 20.12.2013, p. 1. (4) OJ L 167, 29.6.2009, p. 26.

European Parliament resolution of 16 December 2014 on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, in accordance with point 13 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management (application EGF/2013/014 FR/Air France, from France) (COM(2014)0701 – C8-0247/2014 – 2014/2185(BUD))

P8_TA(2014)0083 A8-0065/2014

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2014)0701 – C8‑0247/2014),

–  having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1927/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on establishing the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund(1) (EGF Regulation),

–  having regard to Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020(2), and in particular Article 12 thereof,

–  having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management(3) (IIA of 2 December 2013), and in particular point 13 thereof,

–  having regard to the trilogue procedure provided for in point 13 of the IIA of 2 December 2013,

–  having regard to the letter of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs,

–  having regard to the letter of the Committee on Regional Development,

–  having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A8-0065/2014),

A.  whereas the Union has set up legislative and budgetary instruments to provide additional support to workers who are suffering 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 to the IIA of 2 December 2013 in respect of the adoption of decisions to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF),

C.  whereas the adoption of Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013(4) reflects the agreement reached between the Parliament and the Council to reintroduce the crisis mobilisation criterion, to increase Union financial contribution to 60 % of the total estimated cost of proposed measures, to increase efficiency for the treatment of EGF applications in the Commission and by the Parliament and the Council by shortening the time for assessment and approval, to widen eligible actions and beneficiaries by introducing self-employed persons and young people and to finance incentives for setting up own businesses,

D.  whereas France submitted application EGF/2013/014 FR/Air France for a financial contribution from the EGF, following 5213 redundancies, with 3886 persons expected to participate in the measures, during and after the reference period from 1 July 2013 to 31 October 2013, linked to a decline in the Union's market share in air transport,

E.  whereas the application fulfils the eligibility criteria laid down in the EGF Regulation,

1.  Notes that the conditions set out in Article 2(a) of the EGF Regulation are met; therefore agrees with the Commission that France is entitled to a financial contribution under that Regulation;

2.  Notes that the French authorities submitted the application for EGF financial contribution on 20 December 2013, supplemented it by additional information up to 24 July 2014 and that its assessment was made available by the Commission on 11 November 2014;

3.  Welcomes the fact that, in order to provide workers with speedy assistance, the French authorities decided to initiate the implementation of the personalised services to the affected workers on 6 November 2012, well ahead of the decision and even the application on the granting of EGF support for the proposed coordinated package;

4.  Considers that the redundancies in Air France are linked to major structural changes in world trade patterns due to globalisation, with the Union market share in air transport falling, notably in the face of a spectacular rise of three major companies in the Persian Gulf, a trend which is aggravated by the global financial and economic crisis;

5.  Notes that the redundancies at Air France are expected to have a negative impact on the Île-de-France region, which is also faced with another mass redundancy as the Peugeot Citroën Automobile (PSA) production plant in Aulnay is being closed entirely in 2014;

6.  Notes that the coordinated package of personalised services to be co-funded includes the following measures for the reintegration of 3886 redundant workers into employment: advisory services and vocational guidance for workers, training, contributions to business creation, regular information and communication activities, redeployment allowances, mobility allowances;

7.  Welcomes the amount of EUR 21 580 020 devoted to the redeployment allowance which will be paid until the end of the “congé de reclassement” and amounts to 70 % of the worker's last gross salary; notes the fact that Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013 limits the share of such allowances to 35 % of the total EGF amount mobilised for a given case but stresses that France submitted the application in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 546/2009(5), which applies to applications submitted until the end of 2013 and which allows for a much more generous use of funds for specific allowances, such as redeployment allowances and contributions to business creation;

8.  Opposes the use of the EGF as a way to funding redundancies; advocates that this fund should be used to assist the reintegration of workers into the labour market;

9.  Recalls that funds should help the reintegration of beneficiaries into the labour market instead of providing them with salary replacement after being dismissed; notes that this purpose can be much better achieved through the provisions of Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013 which is currently in force;

10.  Welcomes the fact that the co-ordinated package of personalised services has been drawn up in consultation with the representatives of the targeted beneficiaries and the social partners: training, advisory services for workers, contributions to business creation, redeployment allowances, mobility allowances;

11.  Recalls the importance of improving the employability of all workers by means of adapted training and the recognition of skills and competences gained throughout a worker's professional career; expects the training on offer in the coordinated package to be adapted not only to the needs of the dismissed workers but also to the actual business environment;

12.  Notes with regret that the majority of redundant workers are aged between 55 and 64 years; welcomes the differentiated incentive within the business creation contribution measure to recruit workers aged above 55;

13.  Stresses that, in accordance with Article 6 of the EGF Regulation, it shall be ensured that the EGF supports the reintegration of individual redundant workers into stable employment; stresses, furthermore, that EGF assistance can co-finance only active labour market measures which lead to durable, long-term employment; reiterates that assistance from the EGF must not replace actions which are the responsibility of companies by virtue of national law or collective agreements nor measures restructuring companies or sectors;

14.  Notes that the information provided on the coordinated package of personalised services to be funded from the EGF does not include information on complementarity with actions funded by the Structural Funds but refers to a written agreement with the dismissing enterprise to the effect that, in implementing the measures described above, it will not also receive financial contributions from other Union financial instruments for the same measures; reiterates its call to the Commission to present a comparative evaluation of those data in its annual reports in order to ensure full respect for the existing regulations and that no duplication of Union-funded services can occur;

15.  Approves the decision annexed to this resolution;

16.  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;

17.  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, in accordance with point 13 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management (application EGF/2013/014 FR/Air France, from France)

(The text of this annex is not reproduced here since it corresponds to the final act, Decision (EU) 2015/44.)

(1) OJ L 406, 30.12.2006, p. 1. (2) OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 884. (3) OJ C 373, 20.12.2013, p. 1. (4) Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (2014-2020) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1927/2006 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 855). (5) Regulation (EC) No 546/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009 amending Regulation (EC) No 1927/2006 on establishing the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, OJ L 167, 29.6.2009, p. 26.

European Parliament decision of 16 December 2014 on the proposal of the Commission for the appointment of the Chair, Vice-Chair and Members of the Board of the Single Resolution Board (C(2014)9456 – C8-0284/2014 – 2014/0901(NLE))

P8_TA(2014)0084 A8-0070/2014

(Approval)

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the Commission proposal of 5 December 2014 for the appointment of the Chair, Vice-Chair and Members of the Board of the Single Resolution Board (C(2014)9456),

–  having regard to the third subparagraph of Article 56(6) of Regulation (EU) No 806/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 July 2014 establishing uniform rules and a uniform procedure for the resolution of credit institutions and certain investment firms in the framework of a Single Resolution Mechanism and a Single Resolution Fund and amending Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010(1),

–  having regard to its Rules of Procedure,

–  having regard to the report of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (A8-0070/2014),

A.  whereas Article 56(4) of Regulation (EU) No 806/2014 provides that the Chair, Vice-Chair and the Members of the Single Resolution Board (the Board) referred to in Article 43(1)(b) of that Regulation are to be appointed on the basis of merit, skills, knowledge of banking and financial matters, and of experience relevant to financial supervision, regulation, and bank resolution;

B.  whereas Article 56(4) of Regulation (EU) No 806/2014 provides that the appointments to the Board are to respect the principles of gender balance, experience and qualification;

C.  whereas in accordance with Article 56(6) of Regulation (EU) No 806/2014, the Commission adopted on 19 November 2014 a shortlist of candidates for the functions of Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board;

D.  whereas in accordance with Article 56(6) of Regulation (EU) No 806/2014, the Commission adopted on 1 December 2014 a shortlist of candidates for the functions of the Members of the Board referred to in Article 43(1)(b) of that Regulation;

E.  whereas in accordance with Article 56(6) of Regulation (EU) No 806/2014, the two shortlists were transmitted to the Parliament;

F.  whereas, on 5 December 2014, the Commission adopted a proposal for the appointment of the Chair, Vice-Chair and Members of the Board of the Single Resolution Board and transmitted this proposal to the Parliament;

G.  whereas Parliament’s Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs then proceeded to evaluate the credentials of the proposed candidates for the functions of Chair, Vice-Chair and Members of the Board, in particular in view of the requirements laid down in Article 56(4) of Regulation (EU) No 806/2014;

H.  whereas, on 8 December 2014, the Committee held a hearing with Elke König, the proposed candidate for the function of Chair of the Board, at which she made an opening statement and then responded to questions from the members of the Committee;

I.  whereas, on 9 December 2014, the Committee held a hearing with Timo Löyttyniemi, the proposed candidate for the function of Vice-Chair of the Board, as well as with Mauro Grande, Antonio Carrascosa, Joanne Kellermann and Dominique Laboureix, as the four candidates each proposed for the function of Member of the Board. All five proposed candidates made an opening statement at that hearing and then responded to questions from the members of the Committee;

1.  Approves the Commission's proposal for the appointment of the following proposed candidates:

2.  Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Council, the Commission and the governments of the Member States.

(1) OJ L 225, 30.07.2014, p. 1.