Brussels, 14/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - At the end of last week, the European Commission adopted a proposal to extend until the end of 2013 the temporary exemption for using the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to help workers who have lost their jobs due to the financial and economic crisis. Normally, activation of the EGF occurs after redundancies have been made in companies due to structural changes in world trade. The exemption (currently authorised until 30 December 2011) will be extended until 31 December 2013, when the period for applying the regulation on setting up the EGF comes to an end. This proposal was introduced due to the number of workers who have been seriously affected by the current crisis throughout the Union. It aims to improve the way the EGF is used, together with employment assistance measures for those most in need, explained the Commission. The proposal is being sent to the Council of Ministers of the Union and the European Parliament.
“The EU is built on solidarity and our response to those experiencing difficulties is to offer support and to work with the member states in tackling job losses”, said László Andor, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion.
The proposal would make it possible for member states to continue to present applications for EGF support in favour of workers still made redundant as a consequence of the financial and economic crisis and to benefit from an EGF co-funding rate of 65 %.
There have been 77 applications to the EGF since the start of its operations in January 2007, for a total amount of about €353 million, helping over 75,000 workers. EGF applications relate to the following sectors: automotive (France, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Austria, Germany, Sweden and Belgium); textiles (Italy, Malta, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain and Belgium); mobile phones (Finland and Germany); domestic appliances (Italy); computers and electronic products (Ireland, Portugal and the Netherlands); shipbuilding (Denmark); mechanical/electronic (Denmark, Poland and Germany); repair and maintenance of aircraft and spacecraft (Ireland); crystal glass (Ireland); ceramics and natural stone (Spain); construction (Netherlands, Italy, Ireland and Lithuania); carpentry and joinery (Spain); electrical equipment (Lithuania) publishing and printing industry (Netherlands), furniture (Lithuania), shoe manufacture (Portugal), retail trade (Czech Republic, Greece and Spain) and wholesale trade (Netherlands). (L.C./transl.fl)