Brussels, 07/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 7 May, the European Commission proposed €3.6 million in aid for Romania from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to help 1,000 workers made redundant in the steel industry.
If this aid is approved by the European Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers, it will be used to help 1,000 former workers of the steel products manufacturer SC Mechel Campia Turzii SA and the downstream producer SC Mechel Reparatii Targoviste SRL (part of the Russian Mechel steel group) to find new jobs.
In a press release, EU Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs Laszlo Andor commented: “The manufacture of finished and semi-finished steel products in the EU has been seriously disrupted due to intensified competition from countries outside the EU, particularly China. Today's proposal would help to prepare some 1,000 former steelworkers from the Cluj region in Romania for new job opportunities or to set up their own businesses”.
The total estimated cost of the package is €7.14 million, half of which would come from the EGF. One of the flagship measures will be to help 250 of the workers to set up a cooperative enterprise that will manufacture sports equipment. (MB)