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
CSG Advances Into the Next Phase of Global Growth: Strengthening
Press ReleaseThis article is based on a press release or official communication from Wire News Service. The European Times republishes it as a public service.
Previously Czech and Slovak, CSG now attracts talent from top defence companies like Rheinmetall, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, BAE Systems, General Dynamics, and Kongsberg. Foreign acquisitions, rapid growth, and a stock market listing ha
Why Team Burnham is Already Furious
This marks the first instance of intense frustration during the transition.
Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy reveal that the funding gap is even larger than initially believed.
Additionally, could a former Conservative mayor be considered for the role of chairing Great Britis
Countries Urgently Request UN Debate on Sudan’s al-Obeid Amid Humanitarian Crisis
New York, June 30, 2026 – Eurotoday Newspaper — Sudan humanitarian crisis has become the focus of renewed diplomatic attention after several countries requested an urgent United Nations debate on the situation in Sudan’s al-Obeid. The request follows reports of intensified fighting in and around the city, raising concerns over civilian safety and the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Diplomat
EU Steel Protection Enacted
Solidarity and Solutions Across the Americas
More information
UK New Home Prices Scrutinized as Housebuilders Face Potential Lawsuit
London, June 30, 2026 – Eurotoday Newspaper — New home prices UK are back in focus after several major housebuilders were reported to be facing a potential collective lawsuit over alleged anti-competitive conduct. The proposed legal action follows concerns that competition within the new-build housing market may have been restricted, potentially affecting homebuyers across the country. The alleg
Barcelona Leads the Tour de France’s Opening Stage
A team time trial on Montjuic kicks off the 2026 Tour de France, emphasizing that cycling’s premier race is also a public affair
The 2026 Tour de France starts in Barcelona on July 4 with a 19.6km team time trial, highlighting teamwork, urban design, and public accessibility before the peloton moves toward France. The Grand Depart is not just a sporting kickoff; it is a civic engagement wh
Erdoğan Rejects Israel’s Acknowledgment of Armenian Genocide, Cites Gaza Deaths
The focus is on the Ottoman Empire’s campaign, which resulted in the deaths of over 1 million Armenians and
US Reaffirms Baltic Support, Central to European Defense Cooperation
Washington, D.C., June 30, 2026 – Eurotoday — European defense cooperation was reaffirmed after a senior US general said the United States would stand with its European allies in defending the Baltic states if needed. The remarks come as NATO continues strengthening its eastern defenses through joint military exercises, increased troop deployments, and closer coordination among member nations am
Leave a Reply