EU Grants €2 M to Help Liège Steel Workers Find New Jobs

What is the EGF?

• The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund is an EU safety net that pays for training, job‑search help and other support for workers who lose jobs because of big changes in global trade or industry.
• It can spend up to €30 million a year (in 2018 prices).

Belgium’s request

• Applicant: Belgium
• Company: Liberty Galaţi Belgian Branch, a steel‑making plant in Liège, Wallonia
• Sector: Manufacture of basic metals (NACE 24)
• Workers affected: 507
• Lay‑off period: 24 April 2025 – 24 August 2025
• Reason: Plant declared bankruptcy on 22 April 2025 after long‑term financial trouble.
• Requested amount: €2 033 869 (≈ 85 % of the total cost of €2 392 788)
• Use of funds:
• €2 358 922 for personalised services (outplacement, training, business‑creation support, etc.)
• €33 866 for preparatory, management, information, publicity, control and reporting activities.

How the decision works

1. The European Parliament and the Council have agreed to mobilise the fund for Belgium.
2. The fund will commit €2 033 869 for the 2026 budget year.
3. The decision becomes effective when published in the Official Journal of the EU.
4. Eligibility period

• Workers can receive help from 1 June 2025 until 24 months after the decision takes effect.
• Administrative costs can be funded from 22 April 2025 until 31 months after the decision takes effect.

What the money will be used for

• Personalised services – outplacement, vocational guidance, training (including IT skills), support for starting a business, incentives and other allowances.
• Preparation & management – planning, information, publicity, control and reporting of the programme.

Why this matters for Belgium and the region

• Wallonia is already moving away from heavy industry; the loss of 507 steel jobs is a “social shock” that could worsen unemployment and social exclusion.
• Many affected workers are older (52 % are 55 or more) and have low formal education (69 % have a low education level).
• The EU aims to help these workers find new, decent jobs that match their skills and market needs.

Conditions and safeguards

• Eligibility – The application meets EU rules (at least 200 workers laid off in a four‑month period).
• Co‑financing – Wallonia and the national employment agency (Le Forem) will provide pre‑financing and co‑fund the measures.
• Non‑discrimination – All beneficiaries are treated equally; double‑financing is avoided.
• Monitoring & evaluation – Belgian authorities must report regularly on spending, re‑employment outcomes and whether EGF objectives are met; a final evaluation will involve social partners.
• Complementary role – The EGF supplements, not replaces, national or company responsibilities for supporting workers.

Key take‑aways

• The EU will give Belgium €2 033 869 to help 507 workers from a bankrupt steel plant in Liège find new jobs.
• Funds cover personalised job‑search support, training, business support and the administrative work needed to run the programme.
• The decision is part of a broader effort to protect workers, strengthen the European steel sector and promote a fair transition to a more sustainable economy.
• Belgium must use the funds responsibly, report on progress and ensure the support is fair and effective.

Broader Context

The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF), created in 2007, helps EU workers hit by major job losses from global trade shifts, factory closures, or crises like the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Updated for 2021-2027, it has a €35 million annual budget (up from €30 million earlier) and covers 60-85% of costs for retraining and job help in cases with at least 200 layoffs in four months. Belgium has received multiple EGF grants recently, including for Liberty Liège's bankruptcy (part of Liberty Steel Group's European troubles), Van Hool bus workers (€8 million), and others in chip, machinery, and paper sectors. employment-social-affairs.ec.europa

Impact on People Living in the EU

EU residents gain a safety net when industries decline, funding personalised services like job coaching, skills training (e.g., IT), and business startup aid to speed re-employment. It targets vulnerable groups, such as older workers (52% over 55 here) and those with low education, easing regional shocks like Wallonia's steel decline. Funds complement national programs, with strict reporting to ensure fair use and success tracking. employment-social-affairs.ec.europa

Liberty Steel Troubles

Liberty Galaţi, the Romanian parent, transferred the Liège plant from UK-based Liberty Steel in 2023 amid financial woes, but production never restarted, leading to unpaid wages and bankruptcy on 22 April 2025. Similar closures hit Liberty plants in Luxembourg, blamed on poor management and no buyers despite interest. Unions call it predictable after years of broken promises. gmk