EU Parliament Approves €700,000 Aid Package for Displaced Workers in Belgium

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”

  1. the beekeeper Avatar
    the beekeeper

    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?

  2. Golden Cougar Avatar
    Golden Cougar

    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?

  3. Sassy Muffin Avatar
    Sassy Muffin

    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?

  4. The Happy Jock Avatar
    The Happy Jock

    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!

  5. Street Squirrel Avatar
    Street Squirrel

    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?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Last News

Ukrainian Missiles Hit Russian Defense Plant, Zelenskyy Reports

Ukrainian Missiles Hit Russian Defense Plant, Zelenskyy Reports

“This is a significant industrial site where the adversary produces artillery systems and specialized military gear, including parts for missile systems used against our citizens,” stated Zelenskyy. “Every Russian defense site that contributes to the war against Ukraine is a legitimate target for our long-range sanctions.”
Andrey Bocharov, governor of Volgograd region, verified the attack on Tele

Read More

CPMR Embraces "Committed European Vision for Islands"

CPMR Embraces "Committed European Vision for Islands"

The first-ever EU Strategy for Islands has been greeted as an “important political milestone for Europe’s maritime territories.”
The initiatives, which also include an EU Strategy for Resilient, Prosperous and Liveable Coastal Communities, have been advocated by the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions, CPMR, and its Islands Commission.
They establish, for the first time, dedicated European

Read More

EU Message Scanning Initiative Rekindles Privacy Debate

EU Message Scanning Initiative Rekindles Privacy Debate

Member states seek to revive a temporary child-safety tool after Parliament rejected the measure in March
EU governments are working to revive a temporary legal framework that allows messaging providers to detect child sexual abuse material, revisiting the sensitive issue of balancing child protection, private communications, and power between the Council and the European Parliament.
EU ambassad

Read More

Ein Spaziergang durch Kiew mit Botschafter Thoms

Ein Spaziergang durch Kiew mit Botschafter Thoms

During a walk through the Ukrainian capital, Germany’s ambassador Heiko Thoms explains to Gordon Repinski how the Ukrainians’ pursuit of normalcy has become a deliberate act of defiance against Russian aggression.
Thoms reflects on the toughest winter in decades. Weeks of sub-zero temperatures, systematic attacks on energy infrastructure, and constant generator noise were meant to wear

Read More

Europe on Alert as Extreme Heat Threatens Public Health

Europe on Alert as Extreme Heat Threatens Public Health

Southern Europe, June 26 – Eurotoday Newspaper — Public Health Europe remains the primary focus as authorities across southern Europe respond to an intensifying heatwave that has pushed temperatures to dangerous levels. Millions of people are under weather alerts as health agencies urge residents and tourists to avoid prolonged sun exposure, stay hydrated, and check on elderly and vulnerable ind

Read More

Bosnia Begins WU19 EURO With Broader Ambitions

Bosnia Begins WU19 EURO With Broader Ambitions

Women’s Youth Championship Kicks Off in Sarajevo and Zenica, spotlighting legacy, access, and Spain’s supremacy
By Daniel Mercer, Sports Correspondent, The European Times
The UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship starts this weekend in Bosnia and Herzegovina, showcasing eight of Europe’s top youth teams in Sarajevo and Zenica. The competition is significant, particularly with Spain defending

Read More

Erdoğan launches crackdown ahead of NATO summit

Erdoğan launches crackdown ahead of NATO summit

Some journalists denied accreditation are from outlets critical of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
NATO spokesperson Allison Hart stated Thursday that the alliance “relies on the host nation to provide assessments on journalists from their country.” NATO is communicating with Turkish authorities on accreditation, emphasizing the importance of media attendance at major events.
Campaigners accuse th

Read More

Why Thousands of UK Entrepreneurs Are Opting for Company Formation Packages in 2026

Why Thousands of UK Entrepreneurs Are Opting for Company Formation Packages in 2026

London, June 26 – Eurotoday Newspaper — Company formation packages are seeing record demand as thousands of UK entrepreneurs turn to online incorporation services to launch new businesses quickly and efficiently. Industry professionals report that founders are increasingly selecting digital registration solutions that combine company incorporation with compliance support, helping reduce paperwor

Read More

Brussels Strengthens Controls on Strategic Investment

Brussels Strengthens Controls on Strategic Investment

EU Implements Mandatory Foreign Investment Screening Across Member States, Retaining National Decision-Making Power
The European Union has issued new guidelines for foreign investment screening, signifying a notable change in overseeing strategic areas like digital infrastructure, energy, transport, critical raw materials, and advanced technologies. This framework aims to bridge gaps between nat

Read More

Governments and Private Sector Must Unite to Counter Hybrid Attacks

Governments and Private Sector Must Unite to Counter Hybrid Attacks

Offshore Energies UK reported “drone sightings near offshore energy structures” in April. “Our platforms are 100, 150 miles out in the middle of the sea, so you don’t typically have many neighbors — you don’t have people coming and visiting unless they have a very good reason,” Graham Skinner, the trade body’s health and safety manager for offshore infrastructure, told the

Read More