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
Canada Joins Fighter Jet Project with UK, Italy, and Japan
The Global Combat Air Programme involves “reindustrialization and building back up our production capacity, so we
Canada Observes Global Combat Air Programme in Fighter Jet Initiative
Ottawa, July 21 Eurotoday — Global Combat Air Programme expanded its international reach after Canada officially joined the UK, Italy and Japan-led sixth-generation fighter aircraft initiative as an observer. The decision was announced during the Farnborough International Airshow and gives Canada access to programme discussions while leaving open the possibility of deeper involvement in the futu
France Approaches Under-15 Social Media Ban
French legislators are nearing the final approval of legislation that would prohibit children under 15 from using social media. This follows a compromise between deputies and senators intended to take effect from the start of the 2026 school year, placing France at the forefront of Europe’s ongoing discus
Natural Gas Prices Soar Amid Renewed Middle East Violence
The latest price spikes have intensified fears that Middle East unrest will become a permanent aspec
Russian Embassy Staff Central to Moscow’s Diplomatic Protest Against Moldova
Moscow, July 21 Eurotoday Newspaper — Russian embassy staff became the focus of a diplomatic dispute after Russia summoned Moldova’s ambassador to protest what it described as actions taken against personnel at the Russian Embassy in Chisinau. Russia’s Foreign Ministry said the move was a formal response to measures affecting its diplomatic mission and called on Moldova to comply with internatio
AliExpress Refines EU Platform Regulations
Brussels’ record DSA penalty turns unsafe online goods into a wider accountability case
The European Commission has imposed a €550 million fine on AliExpress for violating the Digital Services Act, accusing the online marketplace of inadequate assessment and mitigation of risks posed by illegal, unsafe, and counterfeit products sold on its platform. This decision signifies Brussels’ intent to vi
Burnham Day 2: Post-Purge Indulgence
He pledged to give the nation some “breathing space” concerning the cost of living, but with prices still on the rise, will anyone truly feel a relief? And is it adequately funded?
Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy analyze what this announcement reveals about Burnham&#
US AI Agency Chief Resigns Amid Ongoing National Focus on AI Testing Standards
Washington, D.C., July 20 Eurotoday Newspaper — AI testing standards are at the center of renewed attention after the director of the U.S. Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI), Chris Fall, resigned only three months after taking the role. The U.S. Commerce Department confirmed the departure and named National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Director Dr. Arvind Raman as act
Turkey Becomes the Fourth Most Visited Country
According to the latest “Most Visited Countries in 2026” report by World Population Review, based on UN Tourism data, Turkey has welc
GKV-Reform: Wer jetzt um Therapieplätze bangt
In a 200-second interview, Green health politician and doctor Paula Piechotta criticizes the cutbacks. She advocates addressing potential savings in
Leave a Reply