INTERVIEW WITH VLADIMIR SPIDLA, COMMISSIONER FOR EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS : THE GLOBALISATION FUND: FAST, EASY, EFFECTIVE AND INGENIOUS.

PositionInterview

Is this fund more than just a gadget'? Don't we already have enough Community social instruments?

No, in fact, there are not enough instruments. Take the example of Volkswagen. To raise resources, we would have to change the projects already underway (as part of the European Social Fund). That is possible at the start of a programming period, as is the case now, but towards the middle or the end of a period, other important projects may have to be cut. So that is not really suited to unforeseeable and sudden situations, where we need to react effectively, quickly and with minimum bureaucracy. The different funds are also complementary. The Structural Funds serve a long-term strategy. The Globalisation Fund allows a reaction in the short term, without disrupting strategic perspectives or requiring their constant revision. It is not a fund the states can use freely. It is earmarked exclusively for crises. The fund benefits workers, not the company. It does not aim to support the jobless, but rather to help them get back to work. In that respect, it complies totally with the concept of flexicurity' that we wish to develop: to help people during transitional phases to move into a quality job, so that they can start over on new foundations.

Some say that with 500 million the fund will be insufficient.

I disagree. With 500 million, we will have enough for the initial phase. The fund will be able to help around 50,000 workers (in the amount of 10,000 per worker). That is not small change! Naturally, the critics can always say that it is not enough. If our needs are higher, we can always reopen that question and many others when the time comes. We have a clause providing for re-assessment in one year. We will very quickly start collecting information on our experiences to assess the way the fund is working. This evaluation may result, as necessary, in an evolution of the fund during the revision of the Financial Perspectives.

How much will this fund cost the European taxpayer?

Not another cent, which is precisely its ingenious aspect. Very simply, it uses money that has not been spent elsewhere. Nor does it involve any extra administration. The fund uses existing European and national structures.

How is the crisis at Volkswagen evolving? You met trade unionists at the European Parliament recently. What did you learn from them?

That discussion with trade...

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