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
Privatization Discussions at Mattel Raise Fresh Concerns About Toy Industry Slowdown in California 2026
The discussions come during a difficult period for the global toy industry as inflationary pressure, economic u
Do We Have an Unpaid EU FoRB Envoy?
UK Elections 2026: Significant Labour Losses as Farage Gains – Live Updates
With counting still ongoing, Starmer’s Labour has lost over 200 councillors in England and relinquished control of seven councils, with Nigel Farage’s populist-right Reform UK being the primary beneficiary. Reform has gained more than 300 councillors and ta
Investment in Quantum Computing Skyrockets as Global Tech Giants Compete for Dominance London 2026
AI Joins the Search for New Rare Disease Treatments
Belgian AI company Kantify was conducting business as usual until a cancer diagnosis led the team to rethink their direction. “We created algorithms for sectors like marketing or transport,” said Ségolène Martin, Kantify’s co-founder and CEO.
“These were complex projects unrelated to health, but they allowed us to develop deep expertise in AI.”
In 2017, Nik Subramanian, the company’s CTO, was d
Greece Embraces MAGA While Other EU Nations Distance from Trump
AI Data Center Expansion Spurs Global Infrastructure Race in Singapore 2026
Europe’s Overlooked Public Health Issue
The Commission acknowledges the scope of the challenge. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obes
EU Convenes to Strategize Hantavirus Response Amid WHO’s Reassurance on Outbreak Concerns
Transmission occurs via virus-laden aerosols from the droppings, urine, or saliva of infected rats. Human-to-human transmission typically requires close, extended interaction, such as within househ
Leave a Reply