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€2 Million to Help 507 Workers Find New Jobs After Factory Closure
Published March 02, 2026
Goal: Help workers find jobs
The European Commission proposes a resolution to give Belgium €2 033 869 from the EGF to help 507 workers who lost jobs at Liberty Galaţi, offering training, job‑search support, and startup money.
Summary
The European Commission proposes to give Belgium a financial contribution of €2 033 869 from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) to help workers who lost their jobs at the Liberty Galaţi Belgian Branch.
Why the money is needed
- 507 workers were made redundant between 24 April 2025 and 24 August 2025 in the Province of Liège (BE33).
- The company works in the metal‑manufacturing sector (NACE division 24).
- The layoffs were caused by weak steel markets, supply‑chain problems, high energy prices and the bankruptcy of the parent company.
Application details
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Application number | EGF/2025/008 BE/Liberty |
| Submitted | 13 Nov 2025 |
| Acknowledged | 27 Nov 2025 |
| Additional info deadline | 18 Dec 2025 |
| Assessment deadline | 10 Mar 2026 |
| Intervention criteria | ≥200 displaced workers in 4 months (met with 507) |
Budget
| Category | Cost (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Personalised services (outplacement, training, entrepreneurship, business start‑up, allowances) | 2 012 322 |
| Allowances and incentives | 346 600 |
| Management, information, control | 33 866 |
| Total | 2 392 788 |
| EGF contribution (85 %) | 2 033 869 |
Targeted beneficiaries
- 507 workers (all expected to participate).
- 92.3 % men (468), 7.7 % women (39).
- Age: 4 < 30, 242 30‑54, 261 > 54.
- Education: 13.8 % lower secondary or less, 55.2 % upper secondary/post‑secondary, 31.0 % tertiary.
Planned measures
- Outplacement & vocational guidance – counselling, training, support with paperwork.
- Training & retraining – specific courses and two IT modules to improve digital skills.
- Entrepreneurship support – diagnosis, coaching, networking for those who want to start a business.
- Business start‑up contribution – up to €15 000 in two instalments.
- Allowances – €2 per hour for job‑search, €350/month for full‑time study, €350/month for business creation (up to 12–18 months).
Eligibility period
- Services can be used from 1 June 2025 for 24 months after the decision.
- Administrative costs are eligible from 22 April 2025 for 31 months after the decision.
Governance
- The same bodies that manage the ESF+ in Wallonia will control the EGF funds.
- Belgium guarantees equality, no double‑financing, and compliance with EU state‑aid rules.
Decision
The European Parliament and the Council will adopt a decision to mobilise the EGF for €2 033 869. The decision will enter into force on its publication in the Official Journal and apply from the date of adoption. The EGF has a maximum annual budget of €30 million (2018 prices).
Licensing: The summaries on this page are available under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).
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