The European Commission has proposed to provide Spain with €856,800 from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to help 250 former car workers in the Spanish community Comunidad Valenciana (Spain) to find new jobs.

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Spain applied for support from the EGF after 250 workers were made redundant by 29 enterprises operating in the automotive sector in Comunidad Valenciana. The redundancies were the result of a significant loss of market share of the European automotive industry over the past decade.

Marianne Thyssen, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, commented: "Comunidad Valenciana has already made good use of the opportunities offered by the European Globalisation Fund. I am confident that these new measures targeted at the automotive sector, which has been hit by the effects of globalisation across the EU,  will help the redundant workers to find suitable new jobs."

The measures co-financed by the EGF are intended to help the workers to find new jobs by providing them with

• active career guidance,
• job-search support,
• vocational training and training in transversal skills,
• promotion of entrepreneurship
• contributions to business start-up.

Allowances and incentives such as hiring benefits and a contribution to costs including commuting, caring for dependent persons and change of residence, will also be made available.

The total estimated cost of the package of EGF is approximately €1.4 million, of which the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund will pay €856,800.

The proposal now goes to the European Parliament and the EU's Council of Ministers for approval.