Sittings · Document
Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers following an application from Sweden – EGF/2025/003 SE/Northvolt
Committee on Budgets
AM_Com_NonLegReport
Amendment 1
Angéline Furet
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
E. whereas Northvolt was specialised in architectural and engineering activities, technical testing and battery manufacturing; whereas the company filed for bankruptcy on 12 March 2025 due to production-related difficulties, in particular as a result of an oversupply caused by intense competition from imports originating mainly from China, which dominates the global market accounting for more than 80 % of global battery production;
E. whereas this bankruptcy marks the failure of the European Green Deal, insofar as Northvolt was specialised in architectural and engineering activities, technical testing and battery manufacturing; whereas the company filed for bankruptcy on 12 March 2025 due to production-related difficulties, in particular as a result of an oversupply caused by intense competition from imports originating mainly from China, which dominates the global market accounting for more than 80 % of global battery production;
Or. en
Amendment 2
Angéline Furet
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
F. whereas Europe needs a strong and competitive battery industry to reduce harmful strategic dependencies and strengthen its industrial autonomy, as well as to achieve its climate and energy transition targets; whereas the batteries and supplier industry is facing high energy and capital costs, production delays, global market distortions, as well as increasing competitive pressure from third-country producers, particularly China7 ;
F. whereas Europe needs a protected, strong and competitive industry to reduce harmful strategic dependencies and strengthen its industrial autonomy, as well as to protect workers; whereas the batteries and supplier industry is facing high energy and capital costs, production delays, global market distortions, as well as increasing competitive pressure from third-country producers, particularly China7 ; whereas the mobility of Europeans is also threatened by the phase-out of combustion engines from 2035 onwards;
_________________
_________________
7 Commission work programme 2026, Europe's Independence Moment https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/strategy-documents/commission-work-programme/commission-work-programme-2026_en
7 Commission work programme 2026, Europe's Independence Moment https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/strategy-documents/commission-work-programme/commission-work-programme-2026_en
Or. en
Amendment 3
Rasmus Andresen
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
I a. whereas 40 % of Northvolt’s workforce were third-country nationals, whose work and residence permits were dependent on their employment;
Or. en
Amendment 4
Rasmus Andresen
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
3. Notes that the application relates to 6 486 displaced workers affected by a major restructuring event concerning Northvolt, which led to the largest bankruptcy in Sweden in modern times; notes further that 5 800 displaced workers in total will be targeted beneficiaries and are expected to participate in the measures;
3. Notes that the application relates to 6 486 displaced workers affected by a major restructuring event concerning Northvolt, which led to the largest bankruptcy in Sweden in modern times; notes further that 5 800 displaced workers in total will be targeted beneficiaries and are expected to participate in the measures; regrets that people with insufficient employment history, and third-country nationals without a permanent right of residence, were not covered by personalised coordinated package; stresses importance of the measures to be addressed to all affected groups to leave no one behind; deplores that some subcontractors who have open vacancies in Sweden could not move employees to those positions instead of making them redundant; calls on Swedish authorities to examine the possibilities of filling open vacancies by the workers made redundant within dialogue with subcontractors;
Or. en
Amendment 5
Auke Zijlstra
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
3. Notes that the application relates to 6 486 displaced workers affected by a major restructuring event concerning Northvolt, which led to the largest bankruptcy in Sweden in modern times; notes further that 5 800 displaced workers in total will be targeted beneficiaries and are expected to participate in the measures;
3. Notes that the application relates to 6 486 displaced workers affected by a major restructuring event concerning Northvolt, which led to the largest bankruptcy in Sweden in modern times; notes further that 5 800 displaced workers in total will be targeted beneficiaries and are expected to participate in the measures; calls for an urgent thorough analysis whether the Commission made the right pre-assessment and decision in subsidizing this 'green project';
Or. en
Amendment 6
Rasmus Andresen
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
5. Notes that as of August 2025 the American start-up Lyten, global leader in lithium-sulfur batteries, has entered into a binding agreement to acquire Northvolt’s remaining assets in Sweden, Germany and Poland by the end of 2025, and is planning to rehire the laid-off workforce taking into account the ability to offer them equivalent positions in the region;
5. Notes that as of August 2025 the American start-up Lyten, global leader in lithium-sulfur batteries, has entered into a binding agreement to acquire Northvolt’s remaining assets in Sweden, Germany and Poland by the end of 2025, and is planning to rehire the laid-off workforce taking into account the ability to offer them equivalent positions in the region; underlines that reemployment should be considered as a primary option and that all unused amounts should be paid back to the Commission in case of taking over;
Or. en
Amendment 7
Rasmus Andresen
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
6. Recalls that, in agreement with trade unions and social partners, personalised services to be provided to all workers consist of the following actions: in-depth assessment and individual planning, job-search activities and coaching, support for starting own business and investment support, labour market training, training courses, special support to enter labour market or pursue education, allowances and digital skills trainings;
6. Recalls that, in agreement with trade unions and social partners, personalised services to be provided to all workers consist of the following actions: in-depth assessment and individual planning, job-search activities and coaching, support for starting own business and investment support, labour market training, training courses, special support to enter labour market or pursue education, allowances and digital skills trainings; stresses that the Swedish authorities shall acknowledge the origin and ensure the visibility of the Union funding and highlight the Union added value of the intervention, by providing coherent, effective and targeted information to multiple audiences, including targeted information to beneficiaries, local and regional authorities, the social partners, the media and the public;
Or. en
Amendment 8
Adnan Dibrani
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
6 a. Stresses that the qualifications and skills of the workers made redundant remain key to a future-proof European economy that accomplishes the green transition; considers therefore that the mobilisation of the EGF needs to be embedded in a larger policy response to ensure that the workers affected find adequate opportunities in line with their qualifications and skills;
Or. en
Amendment 9
Auke Zijlstra
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
7. Calls for thorough final evaluations of the measures implemented, including clear information on how the funds have been used and whether they were spent in line with the approved plans, in particular in cases of direct financial support such as start-up and investment support; further requests data on the number of workers successfully reintegrated into employment and those who have completed training and upskilling measures;
7. Recalls that Northvolt intended to use 'green energy' for its production, but failed to realise this; notes that the company 'ran into difficulties getting the facility up and running'; calls for thorough final evaluations of the measures implemented, including clear information on how the funds have been used and whether they were spent in line with the approved plans, in particular in cases of direct financial support such as start-up and investment support; calls for a thorough evaluation whether Northvolt was run in accordance with accepted international standards for management of the company; calls for a thorough analysis why the project ended in bankruptcy, costing the Union at least EUR 902 million, and whether this could have been averted with better management in general; further requests data on the number of workers successfully reintegrated into employment and those who have completed training and upskilling measures;
Or. en
Amendment 10
Rasmus Andresen
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
9. Stresses that the Swedish authorities provided assurance that the principles of equality of treatment and non-discrimination will be respected in the access to the proposed actions and their implementation, and that any double financing will be prevented;
9. Notes that the Swedish authorities provided assurance that the principles of equality of treatment and non-discrimination will be respected in the access to the proposed actions and their implementation, and that any double financing will be prevented;
Or. en
Amendment 11
Rasmus Andresen
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
11. Stresses the urgent need for coherent and coordinated Union’s competitiveness efforts, developed in close partnership with the Member States, in order to safeguard Europe’s future-proof industrial employment base that responds to the requirements of European industrial autonomy and strengthens the Union’s position in strategic sectors, such as the batteries and supplier industry, while advancing the Union’s green and digital objectives; underlines that only a robust and resilient European economy can effectively prevent large-scale redundancies, thereby reducing the need for EGF intervention in the first place; emphasises the need to ensure clear recognition and visibility of Union funding to highlight its added value; calls for consistent and well-targeted communication to beneficiaries, regional and local authorities, social partners, the media, and the wider public;
11. Stresses the urgent need for coherent and coordinated Union’s competitiveness efforts, developed in close partnership with the Member States, in order to safeguard Europe’s future-proof industrial employment base that responds to the requirements of European industrial autonomy and strengthens the Union’s position in strategic sectors, such as the batteries and supplier industry, while advancing the Union’s green and digital objectives; underlines that only a robust and resilient European economy can effectively prevent large-scale redundancies, thereby reducing the need for EGF intervention in the first place; emphasises the need to ensure clear recognition and visibility of Union funding to highlight its added value; calls for consistent and well-targeted communication to beneficiaries, regional and local authorities, social partners, the media, and the wider public; deplores that the Union battery industry suffers from subsidies Chinese government provides to its producers distorting global competition;
Or. en
Amendment 12
Auke Zijlstra
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
11. Stresses the urgent need for coherent and coordinated Union’s competitiveness efforts, developed in close partnership with the Member States, in order to safeguard Europe’s future-proof industrial employment base that responds to the requirements of European industrial autonomy and strengthens the Union’s position in strategic sectors, such as the batteries and supplier industry, while advancing the Union’s green and digital objectives; underlines that only a robust and resilient European economy can effectively prevent large-scale redundancies, thereby reducing the need for EGF intervention in the first place; emphasises the need to ensure clear recognition and visibility of Union funding to highlight its added value; calls for consistent and well-targeted communication to beneficiaries, regional and local authorities, social partners, the media, and the wider public;
11. Stresses the urgent need for coherent and coordinated Union’s competitiveness efforts, developed in close partnership with the Member States, in order to safeguard Europe’s future-proof industrial employment base that responds to the requirements of European industrial autonomy and strengthens the Union’s position in strategic sectors, such as the batteries and supplier industry, while safeguarding the proper use and protection of the Union budget; underlines that only a robust and resilient European economy, accompanied by well executed company management can effectively prevent large-scale redundancies, thereby reducing the need for EGF intervention in the first place; regrets that so much money of European citizens and Member States (especially Germany) has gone into a badly executed 'green project'; calls for consistent and well-targeted communication to beneficiaries, regional and local authorities, social partners, the media, and the wider public why and how this Northvolt project could go so wrong;
Or. en
Amendment 13
Adnan Dibrani
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
11. Stresses the urgent need for coherent and coordinated Union’s competitiveness efforts, developed in close partnership with the Member States, in order to safeguard Europe’s future-proof industrial employment base that responds to the requirements of European industrial autonomy and strengthens the Union’s position in strategic sectors, such as the batteries and supplier industry, while advancing the Union’s green and digital objectives; underlines that only a robust and resilient European economy can effectively prevent large-scale redundancies, thereby reducing the need for EGF intervention in the first place; emphasises the need to ensure clear recognition and visibility of Union funding to highlight its added value; calls for consistent and well-targeted communication to beneficiaries, regional and local authorities, social partners, the media, and the wider public;
11. Stresses the urgent need for coherent and coordinated Union’s efforts to ensure competitiveness and strategic autonomy, developed in close partnership with the Member States and regions, in order to safeguard Europe’s future-proof industrial employment base that responds to the requirements of European industrial autonomy and strengthens the Union’s position in strategic sectors, such as the batteries and supplier industry, while advancing the Union’s green and digital transition; underlines that only a robust, resilient and sustainable European economy can effectively prevent large-scale redundancies, thereby reducing the need for EGF intervention in the first place; emphasises the need to ensure clear recognition and visibility of Union funding to highlight its added value and the European solidarity embodied by the EGF; calls for consistent and well-targeted communication to beneficiaries, regional and local authorities, social partners, the media, and the wider public;
Or. en
Amendment 14
Angéline Furet
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
11. Stresses the urgent need for coherent and coordinated Union’s competitiveness efforts, developed in close partnership with the Member States, in order to safeguard Europe’s future-proof industrial employment base that responds to the requirements of European industrial autonomy and strengthens the Union’s position in strategic sectors, such as the batteries and supplier industry, while advancing the Union’s green and digital objectives; underlines that only a robust and resilient European economy can effectively prevent large-scale redundancies, thereby reducing the need for EGF intervention in the first place; emphasises the need to ensure clear recognition and visibility of Union funding to highlight its added value; calls for consistent and well-targeted communication to beneficiaries, regional and local authorities, social partners, the media, and the wider public;
11. Stresses the urgent need for coherent and coordinated Union’s competitiveness efforts, developed in close partnership with the Member States, in order to safeguard Europe’s future-proof industrial employment base that responds to the requirements of European industrial autonomy and strengthens the Union’s position in strategic sectors, such as digital technology, by suspending the Green Deal; underlines that only a robust and resilient European economy can effectively prevent large-scale redundancies, thereby reducing the need for EGF intervention in the first place; emphasises the need to ensure clear recognition and visibility of Union funding to highlight its added value; calls for consistent and well-targeted communication to beneficiaries, regional and local authorities, social partners, the media, and the wider public;
Or. en