EU aid for earthquake victims in Italy and jobless in Germany and Denmark

The budgets committee approved aid worth a total of nearly €700 million to support victims of last May's earthquakes in Italy and workers made redundant in Germany and Denmark.

2012-10-20

The green light for €670 million from the European Solidarity Fund (ESF : The European Union Solidarity Fund helps victims of natural disasters in regions that are in need of financial support.) for the quake victims in Italy and for €12.8 million in European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF : The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund provides additional assistance to workers suffering from the consequences of major structural changes in world trade patterns.) support for 3,000 people thrown out of their jobs in the printing industry in Germany and the wind turbine sector in Denmark still need to be endorsed by the full Parliament and the Council.

Italy

The committee voted for €670 million in ESF aid to help repair earthquake damage in Italy worth an estimated €13.3 billion. This is the second application for ESF support from Italy this year.

Germany - Manroland

MEPs approved EGF funding of €5,352.944 for 2,013 employees made redundant by the German printing machinery firm Manroland AG, two of its subsidiaries and one of its suppliers as a result of growing international competition and changing technology.

Denmark - Vestas

The budgets committee approved EGF aid worth €7,488.000 for 720 workers who lost their jobs with the wind turbine manufacturer, Vestas Group, in Denmark. The Danish authorities argue that this industry in the EU has been seriously affected by changes in world trade patterns and a severe drop in EU market share. This is the 13th application from Denmark this year.

Source: European Parliament