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
Merz Dismisses Dispute with Trump on Troops and Trade
On Sunday, Merz aimed to downplay the significance of the disagreement, especially the potential U.S. troop withdrawal, describing it as part of ongoing military planning rather than an abrupt change.
“The American soldiers stationed in Europe were initially positioned here tempo
WISDOMTREE MULTI ASSET ISSUER PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY (A
LSE Code: 3OIS
WISDOMTREE MULTI ASSET ISSUER PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY (a public company incorporated with limited liability in Ireland) WISDOMTREE WTI CRUDE OIL 3X DAILY SHORT SECURITIES ISIN: XS2819844387
RESULTS OF MEETING OF THE ETP SECURITYHOLDERS
WisdomTree Multi Asset Issuer Public Limited Company (the “Issuer”) announces that the Extraordinary Resolution to reduce the principal am
Poland’s President Proposes Constitutional Rewrite
Justice Fabricated: The Tai Ji Men Case in Taiwan
This distinction is cru
Impact of Iran War on Supply Chain: Intensified Global Food and Trade Disruptions by Dubai 2026
The Iran war su
Rubio to Visit Italy Following Trump’s Disputes with Meloni and Pope Leo
Trump also posted an AI-generated image depicting himself in a Christ-like manner. After facing criti
A Plea to FDA and EMA: Remove Barriers to Approving Type 1 Diabetes Treatments
HARPERS FERRY, WV, UNITED STATES, April 22, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The prominent journal Diabetes Care has released “The Importance of C‑Peptide for Developing T1D Disease‑Modifying Therapies,” authored by G. Alexander Fleming (Ki
US to Reduce Troop Presence in Germany ‘Much More Than 5,000,’ Says Trump
NATO stated it was “working with the U.S. to understand the details” of the Pentagon’s d
Voglana introduceert moderne wandklokcollectie met ambachtelijke afwerking en stil uurwerk
Voglana — premium merk voor moderne wandklokken en tafelklokken met minimalistisch design
Voglana Estilo moderne wandklok in een lichte woonkamer met minimalistisch interieur
Voglana Avvolo slingerklok in antiek goud met ambachtelijke afwerking voor modern interieur
Het premium wandklokmerk presenteert handgemaakte modellen vanaf 260 euro met stil Duits kwartsuurwerk voor Nederland en Be
Form 8.3: Man Group PLC
FORM 8.3
PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORERule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)
1. KEY INFORMATION
(a) Full name of discloser:
Man Group PLC
(b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming of nominee or vehicle companies
Leave a Reply