Belgium Secures €1.92 million to Help 416 Workers After Casa Layoffs

Proposal to Mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) for Belgium

• Background

• The EGF is governed by Regulation (EU) 2021/691.

• Belgium applied on 23 September 2025 (application EGF/2025/007 BE/Casa) for help with workers who lost jobs in the Casa group (Casa International NV and Casa Logistics NV).

• Displaced workers

• 416 workers were made redundant.

• 257 in Casa International (retail) and 159 in Casa Logistics (warehousing).

• The reference period for the layoffs was 6 March 2025 – 6 July 2025.

• Assessment

• The Commission confirmed that the conditions for an EGF contribution are met.

• The application was acknowledged on the same day it was submitted.

• Additional information was requested on 5 November 2025 and supplied within 15 working days.

• The Commission must finish its assessment by 17 February 2026.

• Proposed measures for the 416 workers

1. Taskforce – experts run information sessions and create personalised job‑search plans.
2. Outplacement – interviews, skill certification, use of the VDAB “My Career” platform, and support at a job fair.
3. Active mediation – VDAB mediators match workers with employers and suggest up‑skilling.
4. Guidance – referral to partner organisations for job‑search help and mental support.
5. Training & retraining – classroom, digital and on‑the‑job training, with certificates.
6. Training at the workplace – on‑the‑job training that leads to a permanent or fixed‑term contract.
7. Job fair – recruitment event with pre‑fair mentoring.

• Budget

• Personalised services: €2 168 980

• Preparatory, management, publicity, control and reporting: €86 000

• Total cost: €2 254 980

• EGF contribution requested (85 %): €1 916 733

• The remaining 15 % (€338 247) will be covered by national pre‑financing (VDAB).

• Eligibility period for spending

• Personalised services can be paid from 14 March 2025 to 24 months after the decision.

• Administrative costs can be paid from 6 March 2025 to 31 months after the decision.

• Management and control

• VDAB will manage the funds and make payments.

• The Flemish Audit Authority for the European Structural Funds will audit the use of money.

• Commitments by Belgium

• Equality and non‑discrimination in access to measures.

• Compliance with national and EU rules on collective redundancies.

• No double financing and adherence to EU state‑aid rules.

• Budgetary context

• The EGF is capped at €30 million per year (2018 prices).

• The Commission proposes to mobilise €1 916 733 for Belgium’s application.

• Decision

• The European Parliament and the Council will adopt a decision to mobilise the EGF for €1 916 733 for the 2026 budget year.

• The decision will enter into force on the day it is published in the Official Journal.