The European Commission has proposed to provide Spain with €1 million from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to help dismissed coal miners and young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs) in the Spanish region Castilla y León to find new jobs.

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Spain applied for support from the EGF following the dismissal of 339 coal workers in five coal mines in the Spanish region of Castilla y León. The measures co-financed by the EGF would aim at providing them with employment guidance and counselling; general training, re-training and vocational training; intensive job-search assistance; promotion of entrepreneurship and support for business start-up. The total estimated cost of the package is €1.6 million, of which the EGF would provide one million.

Marianne Thyssen, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, commented: "The Globalisation Adjustment Fund provides support to workers falling victim to mass lay-offs caused by globalisation or the crisis. Today's decision will help to prepare the former miners and young people in the region for new job opportunities. By helping workers and young people in vulnerable labour force segments to adapt to changing patterns in the labour market, the EU is showing solidarity, making sure that nobody is left behind. This is also important for businesses, as improving skills and employability of workers creates a more dynamic and competitive European economy."