24 Amendments of Mara BIZZOTTO related to 2011/0269(COD)
Amendment 60 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2 a (new)
Recital 2 a (new)
(2a) In the two-year period 2009-2010 the EGF provided assistance to approximately 10 % of workers made redundant in the Union, with only 40 % of beneficiaries being successfully returned to the labour market. The EGF will only be able to expand its reach and effectiveness if local and regional bodies and representatives of organised civil society are involved to a greater extent.
Amendment 61 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2 b (new)
Recital 2 b (new)
(2b) Ever since its inception, all interested parties concerned in the functioning of the EGF have stated in a variety of fora that in the future the Fund also needs to be able to intervene in cases where the number of staff made redundant is less than 500.
Amendment 62 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2 c (new)
Recital 2 c (new)
(2c) Three principles should be followed when reviewing the EGF: 1. To transform the EGF into a genuine rapid intervention mechanism by making it more efficient and timely; 2. To make the EGF a tangible and effective option made available by the European Union to Member States to tackle large scale redundancies linked to the crisis and to globalisation, which entails simpler procedures, higher rates of co-financing and greater flexibility in its application; 3. To offer additionality, by providing support that complements other Union funds, synergically introducing measures provided for in national or EU legislation or in collective agreements;
Amendment 63 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2 d (new)
Recital 2 d (new)
(2d) With needs and priorities changing rapidly under the influence of globalisation and the effects of the economic crisis on Member State economies, the EGF should be redesigned as an adaptable and flexible instrument that can intervene quickly and effectively, including on smaller labour markets or in exceptional circumstances. To this end, it should be stressed that the criteria used to assess applications for the Fund to be mobilised should not be purely quantitative ones, such as the number of workers made redundant. The overall assessment should always take fully into account the impact these redundancies will have on the economy of certain interconnected localities, areas and regions where, even if the number of redundancies is below the threshold for mobilisation of the Fund, the crisis in one economic sector places the employment dynamics of the area’s entire population in jeopardy.
Amendment 69 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The scope of Regulation (EC) No 1927/2006 was broadened in 2009 by Regulation (EC) No 546/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council as part of the European Economic Recovery plan to include workers made redundant as a result of the global financial and economic crisis. In order to enablefor the EGF to intervene in futurhave the flexibility necessary for it to be able to adapt fully to future unforeseeable crisis situations, its scope should cover all redundancies resulting from a serious economic disruption when caused by an unexpected crisis comparable to the financial and economic crisis that hit the economy from 2008 onwardsassociated with the threat to employment posed by the crisis and globalisation. By this is meant not just job losses due to bankruptcy but also those caused by corporate restructuring of all kinds, including mass relocations within and to outside of the Union, which is responsible for the serious disruption nowadays to the economic and social situation of workers in the Union.
Amendment 97 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Financial contributions from the EGF should be primarily directed at active labour market measures aimed at reintegrating redundant workers rapidly into employment, either within or outside their initial sector of activity, including the agricultural sector. The inclusion of pecuniary allowances in a coordinated package of personalised services should therefore be restrictedIn particularly serious situations, the EGF may also provide temporary support measures that are complementary to pecuniary allowances intended to cover the period of time between workers leaving the labour market and returning to it.
Amendment 101 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) When drawing up the coordinated package of active labour market policy measures, Member States should favour measures that will significantly contribute to the employability of the redundant workers by means of refresher courses, retraining, or development of training courses for entrepreneurs. Member States should strive towards the reintegration into employment or new activities of at least 570 % of the targeted workers within 12 months of the date of application.
Amendment 106 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) In order to support redundant workers effectively and rapidly, Member StatesAs noted by the European Economic and Social Committee, one of the causes of underutilisation of the EGF is the slow and bureaucratic procedure for its mobilisation. In order to support redundant workers effectively and rapidly, Member States, in collaboration with all the levels of governance concerned and with representatives of organised civil society, should do their utmost to submit complete and timely applications. The provision of supplementary information should be exceptional and limited in time.
Amendment 109 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) Special provisions should be included for information and communication activities on EGF cases and outcomes. In addition, to bring about greater efficiency in communication to the public at large and stronger synergies between the communication activities undertaken at the initiative of the Commission, the resources allocated to communication actions under this Regulation should also contribute to covering the corporate communication of the political prioInformation and communication activities should be initiated regarding EGF cases, how they function and their outcomes. In addition, to ensure citizens are more fully informed and, most especially, that employees and owners of SMEs know about the Fund, the resources allocated to communication actions under this Regulation should apply not just to all levels of national government but also to representatives of organised civil society. With their in-depth knowledge of economic sectors and of the particular characteristiecs of the Union provided that these are related to the general objectiterritory and its human capital, they play a vital part not just in collecting the data needed for mobilisation of the Fund, but also in developing, in agreement with the levesl of this Regulation. governance concerned, the most effective intervention measures.
Amendment 110 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13 a (new)
Recital 13 a (new)
(13a) Although many SMEs are faced with problems to which the EGF could offer a tangible solution, in general they are too small and their resources too modest for them to be fully informed that assistance may be available from the Union in certain specific circumstances. Often, SMEs are not even aware that this Fund exists and are not in a position therefore to benefit from it. A wide- reaching information campaign is required therefore, structured around territories and sectors, to inform SMEs, their owners, employees and trade associations of the opportunities offered by the EGF.
Amendment 112 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) In order to ensure that the Union’s expression of solidarity with workers is not hampered by a lack of Member State co- funding resources, the co-funding rate should be modulated, with a maximum 750% contribution to the cost of the package and its implementation as the norm, and the possibility to raise this rate to up to 685% in the case of applications submitted by those Member States on the territory of which at least one region at NUTS II level is eligible under the "Convergence" objective of the Structural Funds.
Amendment 128 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2
The aim of the EGF shall be to contribute to economic growth and employment in the Union by enabling the Union to show solidarity towardsthrough rapid and effective support provided to all workers made redundant as a result of major structural changes in world trade patterns due to globalisation, changes in corporate governance favouring relocation of production to areas with lower labour costs, trade agreements affecting agriculture, or an unexpected crisis, and to provide financial support for their rapid reintegration into employment by updating their skills or through the transmission of new skills including entrepreneurial ones, or for changing or adjusting their agricultural activities.
Amendment 163 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) at least 5200 workers being made redundant over a period of four months in an enterprise in a Member State, including workers made redundant in its suppliers or downstream producers;
Amendment 167 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) at least 5200 workers being made redundant over a period of nine months, particularly in small or medium-sized enterprises, operating in one economic sector defined at NACE Revision 2 division level and located in one region or two contiguous regions defined at NUTS II level, or in more than two contiguous regions defined at NUTS II level provided that more than 5200 workers are made redundant in two of the regions combined.
Amendment 212 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point c
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point c
(c) measures to stimulate in particular disadvantaged or older workers to remain in or return to the labour market.
Amendment 225 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 1
1. The Member State shall submit a complete application to the Commission within a period of 12 weeks from the date on which the criteria set in Article 4(1) or (2) are met or, where applicable, before the deadline set by the Commission in accordance with Article 4(3). The social partners shall be involved in this procedure from the very beginning. In exceptional and duly justified circumstances the application may be supplemented with additional information by the applicant Member State within six months from the date of application, following which the Commission shall assess the application on the basis of the available information. The Commission shall complete its assessment of the application within twelve weeks of the date of receipt of a complete application or (in the case of an incomplete application) six months after the date of the initial application, whichever is the earlier.
Amendment 231 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
(ba) a general skills profile and an initial assessment of the overall educational and training needs of workers;
Amendment 233 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point g
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point g
(g) the procedures followed for consulting the social partnerworkers or their representatives, the social partners, local and regional bodies or other relevant organisations as applicable;
Amendment 244 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 4
Article 11 – paragraph 4
4. The Commission's technical assistance shall include the provision of information and guidance to the Member States for using, monitoring and evaluating the EGF. TFurthermore, the Commission may alsoshall provide information on using the EGF to the European and national social partners and local and regional bodies with information and clear guidelines on using the EGF.
Amendment 247 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 3
Article 12 – paragraph 3
3. The Commission shall implement information and communication activities on EGF cases and outcomes, in agreement with the Member States, the regions, local bodies and representatives of organised civil society, shall implement information and communication activities aimed at: ensuring that EU citizens and workers know about the EGF, explaining how it functions, providing examples of EGF cases and making the outcomes known, highlighting best practices and also identifying weak points in the previous programming period.
Amendment 249 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 4
Article 12 – paragraph 4
Amendment 254 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1
Article 13 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall, on the basis of the assessment carried out in accordance with Article 8(3), particularly taking into account the number of targeted workers, the proposed actions and the estimated costs, evaluate and propose as quickly as possible the amount of a financial contribution, if any, that may be made within the limits of the resources available. The amount may not exceed 560 % of the total of the estimated costs referred to in Article 8(2)(e) or 675 % of these costs in the case of applications submitted by a Member State on the territory of which at least one region at NUTS II level is eligible under the "Convergence" objective of theclassified as ‘less developed’ for Structural Fund purposes. The Commission, in its assessment of such cases, will decide whether the 675 % co-funding rate is justified.
Amendment 274 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 1
Article 16 – paragraph 1
1. Following the entry into force of a Decision on a financial contribution in accordance with Article 15(4) the Commission shall pay the financial contribution to the Member State in the form of a pre-financing of at least 560 % of the Union's financial contribution to the Member State, in principle within 15 days, followed where necessary in formby a clear and pre-established scheme of intermediate and final payments. The pre- financing shall be cleared when the financial contribution is wound up in accordance with Article 18(3).
Amendment 276 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 4
Article 16 – paragraph 4
4. The Member State shall carry out the eligible actions set out in Article 6 as soon as possible, but not later than 124 months after the date of the application, pursuant to Article 8(1).