The Plenary session of the European Parliament gave the go-ahead on Tuesday for EU funding for 3,731 workers in Portugal, the Netherlands, Spain and Denmark. The money will go to people who became redundant following to the closure of their companies.

The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) was established to provide support for workers made redundant as a result of major structural changes in world trade patterns due to globalisation or the financial crisis and to assist them with their reintegration into the labour market. The annual ceiling of the fund is €500 million.

Following the green light by Parliament, now the Council of Ministers still has to give its approval before the aids can be distributed to the companies and workers.

Details of the applications

The total financial assistance approved by Parliament is €14,489,399 distributed as follow:

• Portugal/Qimonda AG: 839 people to receive aid (€2,405,671).
• Netherlands, NXP Semiconductors Netherlands: 512 people to receive aid (€1,809,434).
• Spain, 23 different car manufacturing companies: 1429 people to receive aid (€2,752,935).
• Denmark, 45 machinery and parts manufacturing companies: 951 people to receive aid (€7,521,359).

In 2010 the Fund approved the mobilization of more than 10 million euros to Galicia, Valencia and Castilla La Mancha, claimed by Spain in Februray 2010 and September and October 2009.