Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: redundancies in the paper manufacture and machinery sector in Belgium
The Committee on Budgets adopted a report by Matjaž NEMEC (S&D, SI) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the  European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers to provide assistance to Belgium.
The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) aims to demonstrate solidarity and promote decent and sustainable employment in the Union by providing support for workers made redundant and self-employed persons whose activity has ceased in the case of major restructuring events and assisting them in returning to decent and sustainable employment as soon as possible.
The Fund is not to exceed a maximum annual amount of EUR 30 million (in 2018 prices).
As a reminder, on 19 July 2024, Belgium submitted an application EGF/2024/002 BE/Limburg machinery and paper for a financial contribution from the EGF, following 681 redundancies - 567 at the company Sappi Lanaken following the closure of this paper-producing site, and 114 at Purmo Group Belgium as the consequence of the stop of its production line of panel radiators at its Zonhoven site. This is the second such application of 2024.
Members recalled that personalised services to be provided to the workers consist of the following actions:
- social intervention advisor,
- guidance,
- counselling,
- vocational orientation,
- active job-search support,
- training,
- retraining and vocational training, including training in digital skills, as well as training at the workplace.
The EGF should, therefore, be mobilised to provide a financial contribution of EUR 704 135 in respect of the application submitted by Belgium.
The Belgian authorities and other Member States are called on to undertake the preventive measures in a proactive manner in order to adapt industries to the globalisation and of technological and environmental changes and protect workers from losing their jobs and other negative impact of the globalisation.