MEPs adopted in plenary session on Wednesday 16 January by a clear majority (570 votes in favour, 103 against, 14 abstentions) the draft report by Maria Arena (S&D, Belgium) on the regulation on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund after 2020, renamed the European Fund for Transition (EFT) by the MEPs.
A new name that also corresponds to the scope of the Fund, extended by parliamentarians not only to the fight against the harmful effects of globalisation, but also those of climate change and technological transition (see EUROPE 12147). MEPs also lowered the eligibility threshold for the Fund to 200 workers.
It should be noted that the amendment tabled by Marian Harkin (ALDE, Ireland) to extend the EFT to effects associated with the withdrawal from the United Kingdom was adopted. On the other hand, the amendment tabled by Maria Arena, on behalf of the S&D Group, aimed at helping social partners, regional authorities and local associations help affected regions and sectors recover, was rejected.
The day before, the Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs, Marianne Thyssen, had welcomed the European Parliament’s position. However, she regretted that MEPs had reintroduced the procedures for mobilising the Fund that prevail in the current Regulation and lowered the eligibility threshold.
She recalled that the Commission, in its proposal, had already reduced the threshold from 500 to 250 workers. For Ms. Thyssen, this last proposal risks “diluting” the effect of the Fund. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)