Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2024)84 - EU position in the EPA Committee established under the interim agreement with a view to an Economic Partnership Agreement with the Central Africa Party as regards the adoption of the Protocol concerning the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ and methods of administrative cooperationProposal for a DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the Globalisation Fund EGF/2024/000 TA 2024 - Technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission - Main contents
Please note
This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2024)84 - EU position in the EPA Committee established under the interim agreement with a view to an Economic Partnership Agreement ... |
|---|---|
| source | COM(2024)84 |
| date | 12-01-2024 |
The rules applicable to financial contributions from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) are laid down in Regulation (EU) 2021/691 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 April 2021 on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1309/20131 (hereinafter called EGF Regulation).
SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION
Key data:
EGF Reference no. EGF/2024/000
European Commission Technical assistance
Administrative expenditure: budget in EUR 165 000
% administrative expenditure (ceiling: 0,5 %) 0,08%
In accordance with Article 11(1) of the EGF Regulation, a maximum of 0,5 % of the annual maximum amount of the EGF may be made available each year for technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission.
Technical assistance to be funded and breakdown of its estimated costs
1. The contribution will be used for expenditure mentioned in Article 11(1) and i as well as Article 12(2), (3) and i of the EGF Regulation, as detailed hereunder. It will be managed by the European Commission under direct management.
| Description | Total expenditure (in EUR) |
| Administrative expenditure | 75 000 |
| Technical expenditure | 90 000 |
| Total estimated expenditure | 165 000 |
2. Administrative expenditure:
- The Expert Group of Contact Persons of the EGF, with two members from each Member State, will be holding its regular meetings. Based on the experiences made with virtual meetings, and in line with the Commission's ambitions to lower the environmental footprint of its activities, we will continue to have one virtual meeting and one in presence in 2024.
- In order to promote networking among the Member States, the Commission will organise one seminar with the participation of EGF implementing bodies and social partners.
- Information activities: the EGF’s online presence2, which the Commission has set up within its Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion area, and which it is maintaining as required under Article 12(2) of the EGF Regulation, will be regularly updated and expanded, with each new element being translated into all EU languages. General awareness of the EGF will be increased and its visibility promoted. The EGF will be covered in various Commission publications and audio-visual activities as provided for in Article 11(1) of the EGF Regulation.
3. Technical expenditure:
- Maintenance and update of an electronic data exchange system. The Commission is continuing its work on standardised procedures for EGF applications and management, using the functionalities of the Shared Fund Management Common System (SFC). This allows applications under the EGF Regulation to be simplified, their processing sped up and various reports more easily extracted. The SFC interface is also facilitating the EGF financial operations. This includes in particular:
- Maintenance of the SFC 2014 application and final report modules for the closure of cases for the EGF 2014-2020.
- Development and maintainance of the EGF 2021-2027 interface in the SFC2021 application, in particular new functionalities, such as the final report module, and adjustments to align SFC2021 with the requirements of the EGF Regulation 2021-2027.
- Monitoring and data gathering: the Commission will collect data on applications received, paid and wound up, and measures proposed and implemented. This data will be made available on the web site and compiled in appropriate form for future biennial reports.
Financing
4. The maximum annual budget available for the EGF in 2024 is EUR 186 million in 2018 prices (EUR 209 466 210 in 2024 prices), as set out in Article 8 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 of 17 December 2020 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 20273.
5. Article 11(1) of the EGF Regulation states that 0,5 % of this amount can be made available for technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission. Currently, the entire amount for 2024 remains available; nothing has yet been allocated to technical assistance. The proposed amount corresponds to 0,08 % of the maximum annual budget available for the EGF in 2024.
6. The proposed decision to mobilise the EGF will be taken jointly by the European Parliament and the Council, as laid down in Article 15(1), first subparagraph, of the EGF Regulation and in point 9 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 16 December 2020 between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management, as well as on new own resources, including a roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources4.
Related acts
7. At the same time as it presents this proposal for a decision to mobilise the EGF, the Commission will present to the European Parliament and to the Council a proposal for a transfer to the relevant budgetary line for the amount of EUR 165 000.
Source of payment appropriations
8. Appropriations from the EGF budget line will be used to cover the amount of EUR 165 000 needed for technical assistance.