Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: Application EGF/2026/000 TA 2026 - Technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission

Committee on Budgets

European Parliament resolution of 7 July 2026 on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers at the initiative of the Commission (EGF/2026/000 TA 2026 - Technical assistance) (COM(2026)0360 – C10-0124/2026 – 2026/0126(BUD))

The European Parliament,

–having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2026)0360 – C100124/2026),

–having regard to 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) 1309/2013 (“EGF Regulation”) as amended by Regulation (EU) 2026/1139,

–having regard to Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 of 17 December 2020 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021-2027, as amended by Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/765, and in particular Article 8 thereof,

–having regard to 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 resources, and in particular point 9 thereof,

–having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A10-0179/2026),

A.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 events and changes in world trade patterns or who are affected by imminent redundancy in a company undergoing restructuring, and to assist their reintegration into the labour market or their career transitions; whereas this assistance is made through a financial support given to workers;

B.whereas financial contributions from the EGF should be primarily directed at active labour market policy measures and personalised services that aim to reintegrate beneficiaries rapidly into the labour market or support their career transitions;

C.whereas Article 11(1) of the EGF Regulation provides that up to 1,5 % of the annual ceiling of the EGF may be made available for technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission;

D.whereas technical assistance may consist of technical and administrative expenditure for the implementation of the EGF, such as preparatory, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities, as well as data gathering, communication activities and activities enhancing the EGF’s visibility as a fund or with regard to specific projects and other technical assistance measures; whereas technical assistance shall include the provision of information and guidance to the Member States and social partners on the EGF as well as dedicated outreach to Member States that have had no or have had only low uptake of EGF support; whereas technical assistance activities should contribute to improving the effectiveness, accessibility and visibility of the EGF with a particular focus on measurable results, administrative simplification and user-oriented implementation for Member States and beneficiaries; whereas several Member States have still not made use of the EGF despite facing restructuring processes and redundancies comparable to those experienced in beneficiary Member States; whereas targeted awareness-raising and outreach activities are therefore necessary to ensure equal access to the opportunities offered by the EGF across the Union;

E.whereas the proposed amount of EUR 210 000 corresponds to approximately 0,60 % of the maximum annual budget available for the EGF in 2026; whereas the EGF provides important support to workers affected by restructuring and redundancy; whereas a competitive European economy, reduced administrative burdens and a business environment conducive to investment and innovation remain essential to preserving quality jobs and reducing the number of workers requiring support under the EGF;

1.Agrees with the mobilisation of EUR 210 000 and the measures proposed by the Commission to be financed as technical assistance in accordance with Article 11(1) and (4) as well as with Article 12(2), (3) and (4) of the EGF Regulation; stresses that technical assistance expenditure should remain proportionate, efficient and focused on activities that demonstrably improve access to support for displaced workers and the overall effectiveness of the EGF;

2. Takes note that the Commission will use the available budget under the administrative support for holding meetings of the Expert Group of Contact Persons of the EGF (two members from each Member State) and one seminar with the participation of the implementing bodies of the EGF and social partners in order to promote networking among Member States; calls on the Commission to continue to invite Parliament systematically to these meetings and seminars, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Framework Agreement on relations between Parliament and the Commission;

3.Underlines the need to further strengthen the general awareness and the visibility of the EGF; points to the fact that such goal can be pursued by featuring the EGF in various Commission publications and audio-visual activities as provided for in Article 11(1) of the EGF Regulation and by disseminating targeted information to national, regional and local authorities, social partners, and the wider public; welcomes in this context the maintenance of the dedicated website for the EGF and calls on the Commission to regularly update and expand it; calls on the Commission to pay particular attention in its awareness-raising and communication activities to Member States that have not yet made use of the EGF or have made only limited use of it, including those facing significant restructuring processes and redundancies, in order to improve knowledge of the EGF and facilitate access to EGF support;

4.Underlines the need to further simplify the EGF application procedure; welcomes, in this regard, the maintenance of an electronic data exchange system and the work on standardised procedures for EGF applications undertaken by the Commission; calls on the Commission to continue reducing administrative burdens and shortening the time between application and the delivery of support to beneficiaries while ensuring full transparency and budgetary scrutiny of the European Parliament as one arm of the budgetary authority;

5.Stresses the importance of ensuring that workers affected by mass redundancies, closures and relocations are able to find employment and new opportunities; emphasises, therefore, that the EGF should continue to prioritise training and reskilling measures for displaced workers, offering training pathways and qualifications that facilitate their reintegration into the labour market; underlines that impact evaluations of the EGF should focus on measuring the reintegration of beneficiaries into employment and the effectiveness of the training provided in order to continuously improve and adapt training pathways and support measures over time;

6.Welcomes activities that raise awareness vis-à-vis Member States, social partners and entreprises on the changes to the EGF Regulation that include the possibility to also provide support to workers affected by imminent redundancy in a company undergoing restructuring;

7.Stresses that expenditure financed under technical assistance should be subject to rigorous monitoring and regular evaluation in order to ensure sound financial management, cost-effectiveness and tangible added value for Member States and beneficiaries; calls on the Commission to provide detailed information on the use of technical assistance resources and on the concrete outcomes achieved through the activities financed;

8. Approves the decision annexed to this resolution;

9. 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;

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