Brussels, 05/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 5 November, the European Commission approved requests for money from the European Globalisation Fund (EGF) from Spain and Poland. The requests will now be submitted to the European Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers for approval.
The Spanish request is for €382,200 from the EGF following the redundancy of 515 workers at Lear Automotive, an electrical car parts manufacturer in Roquetes, in the county of El Baix Ebre (Catalonia). The requested aid will help 508 of the redundant workers from Lear Automotive (EEDS) Spain, S.L.Sociedad Unipersonal, whose jobs were lost due to the huge impact of the global economic and financial crisis on the demand for cars in Spain and car parts export markets.
The EGF assistance will complement Lear's social plan by offering the 508 targeted workers training for vocational qualifications, entrepreneurship incentives and participation incentives. The total estimated cost of the package is €588,000, of which the European Union has been asked to provide EGF assistance of €382,200.
The Polish request is for €114,250 to help 189 former shipyard workers to find work after they were laid off by H. Cegielski-Poznan, the only Polish manufacturer of marine engines, and four of its suppliers.
The aid relates to 658 redundancies from H. Cegielski-Poznan resulting from the economic and financial crisis that has changed the future prospects of the shipbuilding industry.
The measure funded by the EGF will help some of the former workers retrain who are currently unlikely to find new work because their skills are mainly in metallurgy, mechanical construction and related activities. The measure includes aid to set up as entrepreneurs and training allowances.
The total cost of the programme is estimated at €175,770, of which the EGF has been asked to provide €114,250. (G. B./transl.fl)