29/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - European Parliament rapporteur on the proposal to create a European Globalisation adjustment Fund, Roselyne Bachelot (EPP-ED, France) and Belgian MEPs Ivo Belet and Raymond Langendries (EPP-ED) feel that the VW employees in Brussels, who are facing redundancy, should be able to take advantage of the new Fund once it is in place (which should be at the start of 2007). “The Commission has always said that one of the Fund's priority sectors would be the motor sector. European Commission Spidla re-stated this last week. The EPP-ED group renews its calls to the Commission to do all it can to ensure that sacked Volkswagen workers from the Forest plant in Belgium are the first beneficiaries of the European Solidarity Fund,” they say in a press release. The Fund allows for financial aid for measures to help employees who lose their job through major changes in the economy caused by globalisation to find alternative employment. “To avoid any delay to the adoption of this report, we must absolutely make sure that current criteria are not changed. For VW Forest employees, it is essential that the Commission, the Council and the Parliament find agreement as quickly as possible”, said Ms Bachelot. (hb)