C_2020363EN.01038101.xml

P8_TA(2018)0471

Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: application EGF/2018/003 EL/Attica publishing

European Parliament resolution of 29 November 2018 on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (application from Greece — EGF/2018/003 EL/Attica publishing) (COM(2018)0667 — C8-0430/2018 — 2018/2240(BUD))

(2020/C 363/43)

The European Parliament,

—	having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2018)0667 — C8-0430/2018),

—	having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (2014-2020) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1927/2006 (1) (EGF Regulation),

—	having regard to Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 (2), and in particular Article 12 thereof,

—	having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management (3) (IIA of 2 December 2013), and in particular point 13 thereof,

—	having regard to the trilogue procedure provided for in point 13 of the IIA of 2 December 2013,

—	having regard to the letter of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs,

—	having regard to the letter of the Committee on Regional Development,

—	having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A8-0377/2018),

whereas the Union has set up legislative and budgetary instruments to provide additional support to workers who are suffering from the consequences of major structural changes in world trade patterns or of the global financial and economic crisis, and to assist their reintegration into the labour market;

B.	whereas the Union’s financial assistance to workers made redundant should be dynamic and made available as quickly and efficiently as possible;

C.	whereas Greece submitted application EGF/2018/003 EL/Attica publishing for a financial contribution from the EGF following 550 redundancies in the economic sector classified under the NACE Revision 2 Division 58 (Publishing activities) in the NUTS level 2 region of Attica (EL30) in Greece;

whereas the application is based on the intervention criteria of point (b) of Article 4(1) of the EGF Regulation, which requires at least 500 workers being made redundant over a reference period of nine months in enterprises operating in the same economic sector defined at NACE Revision 2 division level and located in one region or two contiguous regions, or in more than two contiguous regions defined at NUTS 2 level provided that there are more than 500 workers affected in two of the regions combined in a Member State;

Agrees with the Commission that the conditions set out in point (b) of Article 4(1) of the EGF Regulation are met and that Greece is entitled to a financial contribution of EUR 2 308 500 under that Regulation, which represents 60 % of the total cost of EUR 3 847 500;

Notes that the Greek authorities submitted the application on 22 May 2018, and that, following the provision of additional information by Greece, the Commission finalised its assessment on 4 October 2018 and notified it to Parliament on the same day respecting the deadline of 12 weeks;

Notes that Greece argues that the redundancies are linked to the global financial and economic crisis, more particularly its effects on the Greek economy including a decline in per capita real GDP, rising unemployment, decreasing salaries and reduced household income coupled with the rapid digital evolution which, together with cuts in the advertising expenditure made by important advertisers, is transforming the publishing sector; notes that the sector is facing a drop in both advertising and sales revenues;

Recalls that the redundancies that occurred in three enterprises operating in the Greek publishing sector are expected to have a significant adverse effect on the local economy, and that the impact of the layoffs is linked to the difficulties of redeployment due to the scarcity of jobs, a lack of vocational training courses which correspond to recognised needs in the labour market and to the high number of job seekers;

Emphasises with concern that the Attica region accounts for a large proportion of unemployment and long-term unemployment in Greece where unemployment still remains high;

Recalls that this is the second application from Greece for a financial contribution from the EGF in relation to redundancies in Attica’s publishing activities sector, following application EGF/2014/018 in 2014 and a positive decision thereon (4);

Notes that the application relates to 550 workers made redundant, of whom a large number are women (41,82 %); further notes that 14,73 % of the redundant workers are over 55 years of age and 1,6 % are below 30 years of age; acknowledges, in view of that fact, the importance of active labour market measures co-funded by the EGF for improving the chances of reintegration in the labour market of these vulnerable groups;

Welcomes that the planned training offer reflects lessons learnt from the application EGF-2014-018 GR/Attica which has achieved good integration rates according to ongoing evaluation;

Notes that no measures are planned for young people not in employment, education or training (NEET) despite NEET rates remaining at high levels in Greece;

10.

Underlines that financial allowances are conditional on the active participation of the targeted beneficiaries and can serve as a real incentive in the specific economic context of Greece;

11.

Notes that financial allowances and incentives, i.e. hiring incentives, job-search and training allowances are close to the maximum of 35 % set out in the EGF Regulation;

12.

Notes that Greece is planning five types of actions for the redundant workers covered by this application: (i) occupational guidance and job search assistance; (ii) training, retraining and vocational training in accordance with needs of the labour market; (iii) contribution to business start-up; (iv) job-search allowance and training allowance; (v) hiring incentives;

13.

Acknowledges that the coordinated package of personalised services has been drawn up in consultation with representatives of the Journalists’ Union of the Athens Daily Newspapers (ΕΣΗΕΑ), the Employees Union of Athens Daily Newspapers (ΕΠΗΕΑ) and the Ministry of Labour;

14.

Stresses that the Greek authorities have confirmed that the eligible actions do not receive assistance from other Union funds or financial instruments and that any double financing will be prevented;

15.

Recalls that, in line with Article 7 of the EGF Regulation, the design of the coordinated package of personalised services should anticipate future labour market perspectives and required skills and should be compatible with the shift towards a resource-efficient and sustainable economy;

16.

Reiterates that assistance from the EGF must not replace actions which are the responsibility of companies, by virtue of national law or collective agreements, or measures for restructuring companies or sectors and welcomes Greece’s confirmation in this regard;

17.

Calls on the Commission to urge national authorities to provide more details, in future proposals, on the sectors which have growth prospects and are therefore likely to hire people, as well as to gather substantiated data on the impact of the EGF funding, including on the quality of jobs and the reintegration rate achieved through the EGF;

18.

Recalls its appeal to the Commission to ensure public access to all the documents related to EGF cases;

19.

Approves the decision annexed to this resolution;

20.

Instructs its President to sign the decision with the President of the Council and arrange for its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union;

21.

Instructs its President to forward this resolution, including its Annex, to the Council and the Commission.

(1) OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 855.

(2) OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 884.

(3) OJ C 373, 20.12.2013, p. 1.

(4) Decision (EU) 2015/644 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 April 2015 on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (application EGF/2014/018 GR/Attica broadcasting from Greece) (OJ L 106, 24.4.2015, p. 29).