
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 Medicine Shortages: What’s Going Wrong?
Le Sénat invité à lever l’immunité parlementaire de Francis Szpiner
Britain and Europe: The Journey to Reconciliation – by Edward McMillan-Scott
Wes Streeting’s call for Britain to rejoin the European Union, and Andy Burnham’s more cautious but still sympathetic noises, signal something important: the question of EU membership is no longer taboo in mainstream politics.
A decade after the Brexit vote, the argument has shifted from whether the UK might return to how—and at what cost.
The case for rejoining is, at first glance, largely econ
PARTESS-COM – National One-Day Training in Sofia
Enhancing Capacities for Religious Leaders and Communities
On 15 May 2026, the Bridges Association hosted an interfaith capacity-building training at SOHO Space in Sofia. The event was part of the EU-funded project PARTESS-COM, where Bridges is a Bulgarian partner.
The training was conducted by experts from Enhancing Faith Institutions (EFI), a UK-based organization specializing in security for
French Presidential Candidate Philippe Under Investigation for Embezzlement
Philippe, a prominent candidate for the 2027 presidential election, “acknowledges” the inquiry commencement against him, said the official from
UK Rejoining EU Requires "Focused Review" – Senior MEP
The chair of the EU Parliament’s influential foreign affairs committee has told the UK there are “no political shortcuts” to any possible return to the EU.
German deputy David McAllister also branded the UK vote to exit the EU as a “historical mistake.”
He was speaking amid ongoing current speculation about possible future EU policy under the Labour government.
With UK PM Sir Keir Starmer coming
Circular Economy Provides Dual Benefits for EU Environment and Economy | Press Releases
Sicherheitsupdate: Deutschlands neue Rolle im vergessenen Sudan-Krieg
Amnesty Report Raises New Concerns Over Indonesia’s Online Crackdown Jakarta 2026
From Hollywood Glamour to Cassock: Millionaire Becomes Priest After Giving Away Fortune
Scott-Vincent Borba, a notable American entrepreneur and millionaire known in Hollywood, has chosen to abandon his wealth to pursue a religious life. This significant change in his life was covered by the British publication Independent.
The 52-year-old is a co-founder of the globally recognized cosmetic brand e.l.f.
Before amassing his wealth, Borba had a thriving career as a model and singer,



Leave a Reply