Draft report (2026/0254(BUD))
Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers following an application from Finland - EGF/2026/004 FI/Etelä-Suomi and Helsinki-Uusimaa paper
BUDG-AM-796194
Committee on Budgets
Amendment 1
Angéline Furet, Julien Sanchez
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| – having regard to the European Pillar of Social Rights, | deleted |
Or. en
Amendment 2
Elena Kountoura
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Aa. whereas the use of the EGF remains limited and geographically uneven across the Union; whereas several Member States have not yet used the EGF, despite experiencing restructuring and job losses; whereas greater awareness, earlier coordination with social partners and enhanced technical assistance for national and regional authorities are needed to ensure visibility and timely and effective access to the EGF for eligible workers and regions affected by major restructuring events; |
Or. en
Amendment 3
Matjaž Nemec
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| D. whereas the operational costs of the Finnish paper industry have been rising for the past years due to geopolitical and economic challenges in raw material supply, high energy and manufacturing costs compared with global competitors, growing trade tensions and increasing regulatory and administrative burdens and lower demand due to digitalisation; whereas, the closing of the border and sanctions against Russia due to its war of aggression against Ukraine resulted in the cessation of imports of Russian wood , which had a significant impact on the region of South Karelia, pushing sourcing of raw materials farther and at higher cost; whereas this led to significant waves of job displacements in the past two years; | D. whereas the operational costs of the Finnish paper industry have been rising for the past years due to geopolitical and economic challenges in raw material supply, high energy and manufacturing costs compared with global competitors, growing trade tensions and increasing regulatory and administrative burdens and lower demand due to digitalisation; whereas, the closing of the border and sanctions against Russia due to its war of aggression against Ukraine resulted in the cessation of imports of Russian wood , which had a significant impact on the region of South Karelia, pushing sourcing of raw materials farther and at higher cost; whereas this led to significant waves of job displacements in the past two years; whereas these structural pressures call for a coordinated Union industrial policy response, including support for the diversification of raw material sourcing, rather than relying on the EGF as a stand-alone remedy; |
Or. en
Amendment 4
Nicolae Ștefănuță
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| D. whereas the operational costs of the Finnish paper industry have been rising for the past years due to geopolitical and economic challenges in raw material supply, high energy and manufacturing costs compared with global competitors, growing trade tensions and increasing regulatory and administrative burdens and lower demand due to digitalisation; whereas, the closing of the border and sanctions against Russia due to its war of aggression against Ukraine resulted in the cessation of imports of Russian wood , which had a significant impact on the region of South Karelia, pushing sourcing of raw materials farther and at higher cost; whereas this led to significant waves of job displacements in the past two years; | D. whereas the operational costs of the Finnish paper industry have been rising for the past years due to geopolitical and economic challenges in raw material supply, high energy and manufacturing costs compared with global competitors, growing trade tensions and lower demand due to digitalisation; whereas, the closing of the border and sanctions against Russia due to its war of aggression against Ukraine resulted in the cessation of imports of Russian wood , which had a significant impact on the region of South Karelia, pushing sourcing of raw materials farther and at higher cost; whereas this led to significant waves of job displacements in the past two years; |
Or. en
Amendment 5
Elena Kountoura
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| G. 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 while offering them skills training to facilitate their reintegration and develop and strengthen digital skills; | G. 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, through access to decent, secure and sustainable employment or support their career transitions while offering them skills training to facilitate their reintegration and develop and strengthen digital skills; |
Or. en
Amendment 6
Alexander Jungbluth
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1. Agrees with the Commission that the conditions set out in the EGF Regulation and in particular in Article 4(2), point (b), thereof are met and that Finland is entitled to a financial contribution of EUR 1 102 560 under that Regulation, which represents 60 % of the total cost of EUR 1 837 600, comprising expenditure for personalised services of EUR 1 769 600 and expenditure for preparatory, management, information and publicity, control and reporting activities of EUR 68 000; | 1. Notes the Commission’s assessment of the application submitted by Finland and acknowledges the difficult situation faced by the displaced workers; reiterates, however, that labour-market and social-policy measures are primarily the responsibility of the Member States and, where applicable, of the companies concerned; considers that the EGF constitutes an additional Union-level redistribution mechanism without addressing the structural causes of the job losses; therefore does not support the proposed financial contribution of EUR 1 102 560 and calls on the Finnish authorities to provide targeted support from national resources; |
Or. en
Amendment 7
Angéline Furet
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 4. Draws attention to the strong manufacturing base of the South Karelia region and the significant focus on the forest industry and its spillover effects on supply and service chains; highlights that the job displacements related to the paper manufacturing sector risk worsening a situation of structural and prolonged unemployment, above all for workers with manufacturing background; stresses, in this context, the importance of maintaining a strong and competitive European manufacturing base and creating the conditions for companies to adapt to structural change, invest and remain competitive; recognises the need for considerable reskilling and retraining, in region of South Karelia where the unemployment rate is already above national average; | 4. Draws attention to the strong manufacturing base of the South Karelia region and the significant focus on the forest industry and its spillover effects on supply and service chains; highlights that the job displacements related to the paper manufacturing sector risk worsening a situation of structural and prolonged unemployment, above all for workers with manufacturing background; stresses, in this context, the importance of maintaining a strong and competitive European manufacturing base and creating the conditions for companies to adapt to structural change, invest and remain competitive; recognises the need for considerable reskilling and retraining, in region of South Karelia where the unemployment rate is already above national average; stresses that the difficulties faced by the Finnish paper industry must also be assessed in the broader context of the competitiveness challenges affecting European manufacturing, including high energy and production costs, increasing regulatory and administrative burdens and growing international competition; notes that the cessation of Russian wood imports has increased sourcing distances and raw-material costs for Finnish producers; calls on the Commission to assess the cumulative impact of its energy, trade, regulatory and sanctions-related policies on the competitiveness and employment capacity of energy- and raw-material-intensive European industries; |
Or. en
Amendment 8
Nicolae Ștefănuță
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 4. Draws attention to the strong manufacturing base of the South Karelia region and the significant focus on the forest industry and its spillover effects on supply and service chains; highlights that the job displacements related to the paper manufacturing sector risk worsening a situation of structural and prolonged unemployment, above all for workers with manufacturing background; stresses, in this context, the importance of maintaining a strong and competitive European manufacturing base and creating the conditions for companies to adapt to structural change, invest and remain competitive; recognises the need for considerable reskilling and retraining, in region of South Karelia where the unemployment rate is already above national average; | 4. Draws attention to the strong manufacturing base of the South Karelia region and the significant focus on the forest industry and its spillover effects on supply and service chains; highlights that the job displacements related to the paper manufacturing sector risk worsening a situation of structural and prolonged unemployment, above all for workers with manufacturing background; stresses, in this context, the importance of maintaining a strong and competitive European manufacturing base and creating the conditions for companies to adapt to structural change, invest and remain competitive; recognises the need for considerable reskilling and retraining, in region of South Karelia where the unemployment rate is already above national average; highlights that the Union dependency on imported fossil fuels resulted in high energy-costs hampering the Union competitiveness; calls, therefore, for deployment of cheaper Union energy sources; |
Or. en
Amendment 9
Matjaž Nemec
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 4. Draws attention to the strong manufacturing base of the South Karelia region and the significant focus on the forest industry and its spillover effects on supply and service chains; highlights that the job displacements related to the paper manufacturing sector risk worsening a situation of structural and prolonged unemployment, above all for workers with manufacturing background; stresses, in this context, the importance of maintaining a strong and competitive European manufacturing base and creating the conditions for companies to adapt to structural change, invest and remain competitive; recognises the need for considerable reskilling and retraining, in region of South Karelia where the unemployment rate is already above national average; | 4. Draws attention to the strong manufacturing base of the South Karelia region and the significant focus on the forest industry and its spillover effects on supply and service chains; highlights that the job displacements related to the paper manufacturing sector risk worsening a situation of structural and prolonged unemployment, above all for workers with manufacturing background; stresses, in this context, the importance of maintaining a strong and competitive European manufacturing base that safeguards and creates quality, sustainable jobs, and creating the conditions for companies to adapt to structural change, invest and remain competitive; recognises the need for considerable reskilling and retraining, in region of South Karelia where the unemployment rate is already above national average; |
Or. en
Amendment 10
Alexander Jungbluth
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 4a. Stresses that ex-post compensation through the EGF cannot substitute for policies that ensure affordable energy, reliable access to raw materials, regulatory relief and internationally competitive conditions for European industry; calls on the Commission to assess and disclose the employment and competitiveness effects of Union energy, climate, trade and sanctions policies on energy-intensive and export-oriented industries before proposing further expenditure to compensate for resulting job losses; |
Or. en
Amendment 11
Matjaž Nemec
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 5. Notes that short of 90 % of the displaced workers are men and half are aged over 54, hence facing greater barriers to re-entering the labour market; calls for these measures to be tailored to the specific needs of older workers and workers with a manufacturing background, in order to support their rapid reintegration into decent and sustainable employment within or outside their initial sector of activity; | 5. Notes that short of 90 % of the displaced workers are men and half are aged over 54, hence facing greater barriers to re-entering the labour market; calls on the Finnish authorities to take measures to address social disparities and structural barriers leading to exclusion of work force, such as age; calls for these measures to be tailored to the specific needs of older workers and workers with a manufacturing background, in order to support their rapid reintegration into decent and sustainable employment within or outside their initial sector of activity; |
Or. en
Amendment 12
Elena Kountoura
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 5. Notes that short of 90 % of the displaced workers are men and half are aged over 54, hence facing greater barriers to re-entering the labour market; calls for these measures to be tailored to the specific needs of older workers and workers with a manufacturing background, in order to support their rapid reintegration into decent and sustainable employment within or outside their initial sector of activity; | 5. Notes that short of 90 % of the displaced workers are men and half are aged over 54, hence facing greater barriers to re-entering the labour market; calls for these measures to be tailored to the specific needs of older workers and workers with a manufacturing background, in order to support their rapid reintegration into decent, secure and sustainable employment within or outside their initial sector of activity; |
Or. en
Amendment 13
Nicolae Ștefănuță
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 5. Notes that short of 90 % of the displaced workers are men and half are aged over 54, hence facing greater barriers to re-entering the labour market; calls for these measures to be tailored to the specific needs of older workers and workers with a manufacturing background, in order to support their rapid reintegration into decent and sustainable employment within or outside their initial sector of activity; | 5. Notes that short of 90 % of the displaced workers are men and half are aged over 54, hence facing greater barriers to re-entering the labour market; welcomes that co-ordinated package of personalised services has been drawn up in consultation with experts and social partners in order to support their rapid reintegration into decent and sustainable employment within or outside their initial sector of activity; |
Or. en
Amendment 14
Angéline Furet
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 6. Recalls that, in agreement with experts, regional stakeholders and social partners, personalised services to be provided to the displaced workers consist of the following measures: job-search training and career coaching; vocational training; self-employment grants and allowances; AI-based pilot project on recruitment needs; pay subsidies; mobility allowance; | 6. Recalls that, in agreement with experts, regional stakeholders and social partners, personalised services to be provided to the displaced workers consist of the following measures: job-search training and career coaching; vocational training; self-employment grants and allowances; AI-based pilot project on recruitment needs; pay subsidies; mobility allowance; stresses that expenditure related to the AI-based pilot project should be subject to a specific assessment of its cost-effectiveness and measurable contribution to the reintegration of displaced workers into employment; calls on the Finnish authorities to avoid financing experimental measures where equivalent services can be provided more efficiently through existing employment services; |
Or. en
Amendment 15
Matjaž Nemec
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 6. Recalls that, in agreement with experts, regional stakeholders and social partners, personalised services to be provided to the displaced workers consist of the following measures: job-search training and career coaching; vocational training; self-employment grants and allowances; AI-based pilot project on recruitment needs; pay subsidies; mobility allowance; | 6. Recalls that, in agreement with experts, regional stakeholders and social partners, personalised services to be provided to the displaced workers consist of the following measures: job-search training and career coaching; vocational training; self-employment grants and allowances; AI-based pilot project on recruitment needs; pay subsidies; mobility allowance; stresses that trade union representatives should be involved throughout the entire implementation of the EGF measures, including the monitoring phase, to ensure the quality and relevance of the support offered to beneficiaries; |
Or. en
Amendment 16
Lucia Yar, Olivier Chastel
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 6. Recalls that, in agreement with experts, regional stakeholders and social partners, personalised services to be provided to the displaced workers consist of the following measures: job-search training and career coaching; vocational training; self-employment grants and allowances; AI-based pilot project on recruitment needs; pay subsidies; mobility allowance; | 6. Recalls that, in agreement with experts, regional stakeholders and social partners, personalised services to be provided to the displaced workers consist of the following measures in order to prevent long-term unemployment including for older workers: job-search training and career coaching; vocational training; self-employment grants and allowances; AI-based pilot project on recruitment needs; pay subsidies; mobility allowance; |
Or. en
Amendment 17
Alexander Jungbluth
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 6a. Calls on the Commission and the Finnish authorities to continuously reassess the actual number of beneficiaries requiring support, to reimburse only expenditure actually incurred for eligible and verifiable measures, to prevent any double financing and to return all unused appropriations to the Union budget; requests detailed information on the costs, selection procedure and measurable employment outcomes of the AI-based pilot project, the pay subsidies and the allowances financed under the proposed measures; |
Or. en
Amendment 18
Angéline Furet, Julien Sanchez
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 7. Stresses that the Finnish and regional authorities shall ensure the visibility of the Union funding and highlight its added value by providing effective and targeted information to beneficiaries, regional and local authorities, social partners, and the wider public; | deleted |
Or. en
Amendment 19
Lucia Yar, Olivier Chastel
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 7. Stresses that the Finnish and regional authorities shall ensure the visibility of the Union funding and highlight its added value by providing effective and targeted information to beneficiaries, regional and local authorities, social partners, and the wider public; | 7. Stresses that the Finnish and regional authorities shall ensure the visibility of the Union funding and highlight its added value by providing effective and targeted information to beneficiaries, regional and local authorities, social partners, and the wider public; underlines that the EGF is a concrete expression of European solidarity, demonstrating that the European Union stands with workers and communities affected by major economic and structural change; stresses that communicating the tangible benefits of EGF support is essential to strengthening citizens’ confidence in the European project and in the Union’s capacity to protect workers during economic transitions; |
Or. en
Amendment 20
Alexander Jungbluth
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 7. Stresses that the Finnish and regional authorities shall ensure the visibility of the Union funding and highlight its added value by providing effective and targeted information to beneficiaries, regional and local authorities, social partners, and the wider public; | 7. Stresses that expenditure on information and publicity must be strictly limited to providing potentially eligible workers with clear and timely information on the conditions of and access to the measures; rejects the use of EGF appropriations for political communication or institutional self-promotion; |
Or. en
Amendment 21
Elena Kountoura
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 7. Stresses that the Finnish and regional authorities shall ensure the visibility of the Union funding and highlight its added value by providing effective and targeted information to beneficiaries, regional and local authorities, social partners, and the wider public; | 7. Stresses that the Finnish and regional authorities shall ensure the visibility of the Union funding and highlight its added value by providing effective, clear, timely and targeted information to beneficiaries, regional and local authorities, social partners, and the wider public; |
Or. en
Amendment 22
Matjaž Nemec
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 7a. Recalls that the EGF is an instrument of solidarity and just transition, and while it provides support following job losses, it cannot replace a proactive industrial policy; considers that the mobilisation of the EGF needs to be embedded in a larger policy response on all political levels to ensure that the workers affected find adequate opportunities in line with their qualifications and skills; underlines the need to provide specific support tailored to the needs and profiles of workers with lower levels of education, while taking measures to reduce bankruptcies and address social disparities leading to exclusion from the workforce; |
Or. en
Amendment 23
Elena Kountoura
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 7a. Underlines the need to further raise awareness of the EGF in some Member States and strengthen its visibility; calls on the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States and social partners, to strengthen outreach and technical assistance, with particular attention to national and regional authorities with no or limited experience in accessing EGF support; |
Or. en
Amendment 24
Angéline Furet, Julien Sanchez
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 8. Calls for thorough final evaluations of the measures implemented, including how the funds were used, the reintegration of workers into the labour market, and whether the EGF objectives were achieved; | 8. Calls for thorough final evaluations of the measures implemented, including how the funds were used, the reintegration of workers into the labour market, and whether the EGF objectives were achieved; calls for the final evaluation to include the total cost per beneficiary, administrative expenditure, the proportion of beneficiaries achieving sustainable reintegration into employment and the cost-effectiveness of each category of personalised services; calls for an independent assessment of any potential overlap with measures financed by the European Social Fund Plus or existing national and regional employment instruments; stresses that such evaluation and controls must under no circumstances delay or reduce the immediate and full mobilisation of the EUR 1 102 560 allocated to support the displaced workers concerned; |
Or. en
Amendment 25
Matjaž Nemec
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 8a. Recalls that national and regional authorities shall ensure equal opportunities in terms of gender, ensuring gender equality is integrated into and promoted throughout the implementation of the EGF measures; |
Or. en
Amendment 26
Angéline Furet, Julien Sanchez
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 9. Notes that Finland started providing both personalised services to the targeted beneficiaries and incurring administrative expenditure to implement the EGF on 1 January 2026 and that the period of eligibility for a financial contribution from the EGF will therefore be from that date until 24 months and until 31 months after the date of the entry into force of the financing decision, respectively; | 9. Notes that Finland started providing both personalised services to the targeted beneficiaries and incurring administrative expenditure to implement the EGF on 1 January 2026 and that the period of eligibility for a financial contribution from the EGF will therefore be from that date until 24 months and until 31 months after the date of the entry into force of the financing decision, respectively; stresses that the retroactive eligibility of expenditure must not weaken budgetary scrutiny and calls on the Commission to ensure that expenditure incurred before the submission and approval of the application is subject to the same requirements of necessity, additionality and cost-effectiveness as expenditure incurred thereafter; |
Or. en
Amendment 27
Angéline Furet
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 10. Reiterates that assistance from the EGF must not replace actions that are the responsibility of public authorities or companies under national law or collective agreements; recalls that the EGF is a limited, targeted and complementary mechanism and cannot replace structural economic policies that sustain economic growth, promote a business-friendly environment, and protect Union enterprises, economic operators and their workers; | 10. Reiterates that assistance from the EGF must not replace actions that are the responsibility of public authorities or companies under national law or collective agreements; recalls that the EGF is a limited, targeted and complementary mechanism and cannot replace structural economic policies that sustain economic growth, promote a business-friendly environment, and protect Union enterprises, economic operators and their workers; stresses that recurrent recourse to the EGF should not substitute for Member States' responsibility for labour-market policy or for policies aimed at addressing the underlying causes of industrial decline and loss of competitiveness; |
Or. en
Amendment 28
Matjaž Nemec
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 10. Reiterates that assistance from the EGF must not replace actions that are the responsibility of public authorities or companies under national law or collective agreements; recalls that the EGF is a limited, targeted and complementary mechanism and cannot replace structural economic policies that sustain economic growth, promote a business-friendly environment, and protect Union enterprises, economic operators and their workers; | 10. Reiterates that assistance from the EGF must not replace actions that are the responsibility of public authorities or companies under national law or collective agreements; recalls that the EGF is a limited, targeted and complementary mechanism and cannot replace structural economic and social policies that sustain economic growth, promote a stable, predictable and innovation - friendly business environment, and protect Union enterprises, economic operators and their workers; |
Or. en
Amendment 29
Lucia Yar, Olivier Chastel
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 10a. Underlines that traditional industrial sectors continue to play an important role in the Union’s industrial base and provide employment to a significant number of workers across Member States, despite increasing pressure from structural transformation, technological developments and global competition; stresses the importance of accompanying these changes with adequate social protection and investment in workers’ skills; calls on the Commission to ensure that existing and future Union instruments, including the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers, are used in a targeted and complementary manner to support workers affected by restructuring and transitions across industrial value chains; |
Or. en
Amendment 30
Alexander Jungbluth
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 11. Approves the decision annexed to this resolution; | 11. Rejects the decision annexed to this resolution; |
Or. en