EU globalisation aid could be paid out faster to unemployed workers

EU globalisation aid could be paid out faster to unemployed workers

(...) The EU institutions could halve the time they take to give financial aid to workers who have lost their jobs as a result of globalisation or the financial crisis, claims the EP Budgets Committee in a review of the EU Globalisation Adjustment Fund. It also urges the Commission to find out why the sums requested by Member States vary so much and why some countries often apply for aid while others never do.

Between when it was set up in December 2006 and April this year, the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) has supported nearly 37,000 workers who had lost their jobs in 17 different EU countries. The aid has consisted of measures such as training, job coaching and support to start own businesses.

The added value of the EGF is that it "provides a visible, specific, targeted and temporary financial support for personalised programmes for the reskilling and re-integration into employment of workers affected by collective redundancies in sectors or regions undergoing severe economic and social disruption" say MEPs. (...)