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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
Community improvement
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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.
Document summary The source
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: This article is available under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).