Brussels (Eurotoday) – EU Parliament approved aid worth €700,000 to help 632 dismissed workers in Belgium.
The European Parliament Committee on Budgets endorsed Belgium’s request for €704,135 in EU support through the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF). The aid will help 632 former workers from machinery and paper companies Purmo and Sappi in the Flemish region of Limburg.
As reported by EU Parliament Press, MEPs stated that the profiles of the displaced employees, one-third of which are aged 55 years or more and 30 % with low education, translate into extreme barriers in the labour market.
What caused the layoffs at the Sappi and Purmo plants?
Both Sappi Lanaken and Purmo Group had to expel employees due to dropping demand for their products and economic difficulties. Sappi Lanaken shut its plant because digitalization decreased the need for woodfree coated paper and shifting production was too expensive, while Purmo Group’s Zonhoven plant stopped production due to a 60% reduction in panel radiator demand, higher operational expenses, and unfavorable market conditions affected by the war in Ukraine and EU ruling favoring alternative heating systems.
How will the €700,000 EU aid help displaced workers?
According to the EU Parliament, the EGF funding will assist in paying for counseling and vocational orientation, job search allowances, as well as skills activity in vocational, digital, and language skills. The total calculated cost of these actions is €1.2 million, with 60% (€700,000) spent by the EGF and the remaining 40% (€500,000) funded by the Flemish Employment and Vocational Training Service (VDAB).
What role does the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund play?
Moreover, under the EGF regulation 2021-2027, the Fund helps displaced employees and self-employed people who have lost their activity due to unexpected significant restructuring events. Since 2007, the EGF has assigned €696 million in 180 cases, providing support to more than 169,000 people in 20 Member States. EGF-supported efforts complement national active labour market measures.
Comments
5 responses to “EU Parliament Approves €700,000 Aid Package for Displaced Workers in Belgium”
-
Ah, €700,000 for 632 displaced workers in Belgium—because nothing says “we care” quite like tossing a few coins into a fountain while the real heavy lifting of job creation clearly remains a job for the next EU committee meeting, right?
-
Ah, the EU Parliament has graciously approved a whopping €700,000 to help 632 Belgian workers displaced by the whims of digitalization and market trends—because who needs a stable career when you’ve got a charmingly bureaucratic safety net to fall back on, right?
-
Ah, nothing like a €700,000 aid package for 632 displaced workers in Belgium to remind us that in the EU, even the crumbs of compassion come with a side of bureaucratic theatrics—because what’s more reassuring than an EU safety net that’s frayed at the edges and still costs more than your average Belgian waffle?
-
Ah, €700,000 to help 632 workers find new careers in Belgium—because nothing says “let them eat cake” quite like a bureaucratic band-aid on a digital age bullet wound!
-
Ah, the EU Parliament’s generous €700,000 gift to help 632 displaced workers in Belgium—because nothing says “compassionate governance” like a financial band-aid for a gaping wound in the job market, eh?
Last News
Europe’s Airports Crave Jet Fuel
“Europe has long been a net importer of jet fuel, with imports making up about 30 percent of regional demand,” the International Air
What Lies Ahead for Kazakhstan Following the New Constitution
In mid-March, citizens of the largest Central Asian country voted on a new constitution. An overwhelming 87% supported the main state document, highlighting strong backing for President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s leadership.
The Tokayev Constitution i
How secure are the Commission’s group chats?
With past instances of coordinated social media campaigns aimed at other regional nations, the government fears Russian misinformation might influence public opinion before the vote. Host Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart, senior EU politics editor
New Book Explores the Khashoggi Murder
Rede zur Nation: Trumps Pläne für den Iran
Britain’s EU liaison claims reset deal achievable by summer
In relation to the negotiation difficulties, specifically with the EU’s insistence on U.K. university students’ fees matching the home rates for EU students, Tho
Trump’s rage at NATO allies is binding them together — against him
Last week in Helsinki, 10 European leaders gathered for a private dinner at the Mannerheim Museum, the residence of Finland’s WWII leader Gustaf Mannerheim, without their officials and aides.
In the 1940s-era setting adorned with hunting trophies of the former president, leaders from countries such as the U.K, Sweden, Finland, and Norway engaged in a candid discussion on the trou
Trump and Stubb Held ‘Constructive’ NATO Talks Amid Uncertain Alliance Future
European countries have largely avoided military involvement in the Strait of Hormuz, a key trade point obstructed by Iran following the attacks. This week, EU and NATO members Italy and Spain implemented mea
„Ami go home“ oder Bündnis mit Trump?
"Rubio Warns US May Rethink NATO Post-Iran Conflict: ‘Not a Very Good Arrangement’"
Spain has emerged as a key point of tension in this transatlantic divide. Deputy Prime Minister Carlos Cuerpo stated on Monday that Madrid has barred U.S. military aircraft involved in the Middle East conflict f
Leave a Reply