Proposal for a DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers following an application from Belgium – EGF/2024/002 BE/Limburg machinery and paper
Date: 2024-11-05
Institutions: Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission
Subjects: Belgium, European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, Flanders (Belgium), commitment of expenditure, dismissal, employment aid, general budget (EU), globalisation, mechanical engineering, pulp and paper industry, reintegration into working life

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   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 5.11.2024  COM(2024) 370 final 2024/0286 (BUD)  Proposal for a DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers following an application from Belgium – EGF/2024/002 BE/Limburg machinery and paper  
 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL 

1. 

2. 

3. 

The  rules  applicable  to  financial  contributions  from  the  European  Globalisation 
Adjustment  Fund  for  Displaced  Workers  (EGF)  are  laid  down  in  Regulation  (EU) 
2021/691  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  28  April  2021  on  the 
European  Globalisation  Adjustment  Fund  for  Displaced  Workers  (EGF)  and 
repealing Regulation (EU) No 1309/20131. 

On  19  July  2024,  Belgium  submitted  an  application  EGF/2024/002 BE/Limburg 
machinery  and  paper  for  a  financial  contribution  from  the  EGF,  following 
displacements  in  the  economic  sectors  classified  under  the  NACE  Revision  2 
division 17 (Manufacture of paper and paper products) and division 28 (Manufacture 
of machinery and equipment) in the NUTS 2 region of Provincie Limburg (BE22) in 
Belgium. 

Following  its  assessment  of  this  application,  the  Commission  has  concluded,  in 
accordance  with  all  applicable  provisions  of  Regulation  (EU)  2021/691,  that  the 
conditions for awarding a financial contribution from the EGF are met.  

SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION 

EGF application 

Member State 

Region(s) concerned (NUTS2 level 2) 

Date of submission of the application 

Date of acknowledgement of receipt of the 
application 

EGF/2024/002 BE/Limburg 
machinery and paper 

Belgium 
Provincie Limburg (BE22) 

19 July 2024 

19 July 2024 

Date when the translation was available 

27 August 2024 

Date of request for additional information 

4 September 2024 

Deadline for provision of the additional 
information 

25 September 2024 

Deadline for the completion of the assessment 

5 December 2024 

Intervention criterion 

Article 4(2), point (c), of Regulation 
(EU) 2021/691 

Number of enterprises concerned 

2 

Sector(s) of economic activity 
(NACE Revision 2 division)3 

Division 17 (Manufacture of paper 
and paper products) and 
Division 28 (Manufacture of 

1 
2 

3 

OJ L 153, 3.5.2021, p. 48. 
Commission Delegated Regulation 2019/1755 of 8 August 2019 amending the Annexes to Regulation 
(EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of a common 
classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS). OJ L 270, 24.10.2019, p. 1–56. 
OJ L 393, 30.12.2006, p. 1. 

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Reference period (four months): 

31 December 2023 – 30 April 2024 

machinery and equipment) 

Number of displacements during the reference 
period (a) 

Number of displacements before or after the 
reference period (b) 

Total number of displacements (a + b) 

Total number of eligible beneficiaries 

Total number of targeted beneficiaries 
Budget for personalised services (EUR) 
Budget for implementing EGF4 (EUR) 
Total budget (EUR) 
EGF contribution (60 %) (EUR) 

681 

0 

681 

681 

632 
1 126 559 
0 047 000 
1 173 559 
704 135 

ASSESSMENT OF THE APPLICATION 

Procedure 

4. 

Belgium  submitted  application  EGF/2024/002 BE/Limburg  machinery  and  paper 
within 12 weeks of the date on which the intervention criteria set out in Article 4 (2), 
point (c) of Regulation (EU) 2021/691 were met, on 19 July 2024. The Commission 
acknowledged  receipt  of  the  application  the  same  date.  The  Commission  was  in 
possession  of  the  translation  of  the  application  on  27  August  2024  and  requested 
additional  information  from  Belgium  on  4  September  2024.  Such  additional 
information was provided within 15 working days of the request. The deadline of 50 
working  days  of  the  receipt  of  the  complete  application  within  which  the 
Commission  should finalise its assessment of the application's  compliance with the 
conditions for providing a financial contribution expires on 5 December 2024.  

Eligibility of the application 

Enterprises and beneficiaries concerned 

5. 

The  application  relates  to  681  displaced  workers  whose  activity  has  ceased  in  the 
economic sectors classified under the NACE Revision 2 division 17 (Manufacture of 
paper  and paper products) and 28  (Manufacture  of machinery and equipment). The 
redundancies are located in the NUTS 2 region of Provincie Limburg (BE22) . 

Enterprises and number of displacements within the reference period 

Sappi Lanaken NV (paper) 
Purmo Group Belgium NV (machinery)  
Total no. of enterprises: 2 

Total no. of displacements:  

Total no. of self-employed persons whose activity has ceased:  

Total no. of eligible workers and self-employed persons:  

567 
114 

681 

0 

681 

4 

In accordance with Article 7(5) of Regulation (EU) 2021/691. 

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Intervention criteria 

6. 

7. 

8. 

Belgium  submitted  the  application  under  the  intervention  criteria  of  Article 4(2), 
point (c) of Regulation (EU) 2021/691, which requires the cessation of activity of at 
least  200  displaced  workers  over  a  reference  period  of  four  months  in  enterprises 
operating  in  the  same  or  different  economic  sectors  defined  at  NACE  Revision  2 
level and located in the same region defined at NUTS 2 level in a Member State.   

The reference period of four months for the application runs from 31 December 2023 
to 30 April 2024. 

There  were  681  displaced  workers  in  the  NUTS  2  region  of  Provincie  Limburg 
(BE22), in the economic sectors classified under the NACE Revision 2 division  17 
(Manufacture  of  paper  and  paper  products)  and  28  (Manufacture  of  machinery  and 
equipment). 

Calculation of displacements and of cessation of activity 

9. 

Pursuant  to  Article 6,  first  paragraph,  point (a),  in  conjunction  with  Article 5,  first 
paragraph, point (c), of Regulation (EU) 2021/691, the cessation of activities of the 
displaced workers  during the reference period  has been  calculated from  the date of 
the de facto termination of the contract of employment or its expiry. 

Eligible beneficiaries 

10. 

The total number of eligible beneficiaries is 681. 

Description of the events that led to the displacements and cessation of activity 

11. 

12. 

13. 

14. 

15. 

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6 
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The  events  giving  rise  to  the  displacements  in  the  paper  sector  are  the  declining 
demand  for  graphics  products  resulting  from  increased  digitalisation  and  the 
resulting  growing  overcapacity  of  the  European  woodfree  coated  paper  (WCP) 
industry5. 

In 2009, the European paper industry indicated having a capacity of 9,3 million tons 
of  WCP.  In  15  years,  the  capacity  of  the  European  WCP  Industry  has  declined  by 
50 %,  to  4,6  million  tons  in  2023.  In  2023,  the  industry  did  not  make  use  of  the 
maximum  capacity,  but  only  produced  2,7  million  tons6.  WCP  production  in  Sappi 
group has been following the same declining trend as the European WCP industry. 

Sappi’s Lanaken site is at a disadvantage compared with other Sappi’s sites. Lanaken 
is  specialised  in  the  production  of  WCP,  thus  the  shift  to  the  production  of  other 
paper products more in demand requires heavy investments. In addition, other Sappi 
plants can take over Lanaken production, but not the other way around. Taking these 
considerations into account, the Sappi Group decided to stop production in Lanaken 
and  close  the  plant7,  as  no  suitable  buyer  could  be  identified,  because  of  structural 
overcapacity in the industry. 

The  events  giving  rise  to  the  displacements  in  the  machinery  sector  is  Purmo's 
decision to stop production of 50 mm panel radiators in its Zonhoven plant and close 
the relevant production line. This is resulting in 114 dismissals. 

The  reason  to  discontinue  production  is  the  sharp  decline  in  demand  for  panel 
radiators in the EU. The demand for alternative heating systems, such as heat pumps 

https://www.euwid-paper.com/news/markets/fine-paper-demand-in-europe-is-currently-far-below-
existing-capacities-090823/ 
Sappi’s presentation to the Works Council (10 October 2023).  
Sappi’s presentation to the Works Council (10 October 2023). 

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16. 

17. 

and  low-temperature  systems,  is  experiencing  rapid  growth 8  mainly  due  to  the 
European  Union's  commitment  to  emissions  targets  and  the  clear  intention  to 
decarbonise buildings and industry in the EU. 

The  unexpected  situation  regarding  gas  availability  and  prices,  resulting  from  the 
Russian  war  of  aggression  against  Ukraine  began  to  modify  consumer  purchasing 
habits  in  favour  of  alternative  heating  solutions,  partly  due  to  the  efforts  to  reduce 
dependence on Russian gas supplies, and EU legislation benefiting low-temperature 
heating  systems  to  the  detriment  of  panel  radiators.  In  such  scenario,  demand 
recovery  is  unlikely  as  the  panel  radiator  market  will  increasingly  be  limited  to 
replacing units in use9. 

Purmo Group's production volume has been steadily declining over the period 2018-
2023, from 820 000 units in 2018 to 320 000 in 2023 (-60 %). When comparing the 
production  costs  of  the  various  Purmo  Group’s  plants  in  Europe,  the  site  in 
Zonhoven is at a disadvantage, as its costs are 17 % to 35 % higher10. 

Expected impact of the displacements as regards the local, regional or national economy and 
employment 

Redundant  workers  concentrate  in  Lanaken  (83 %)  and  Zonhoven  (27 %),  so  the 
province of Limburg in Flanders is the territory affected by the redundancies. 

Lanaken’s  and  Zonhoven’s  labour  markets  are  at  disadvantage  when  compared  to 
Limburg as a whole or to Flanders. The ratio of the working population to available 
jobs is 49 % in Lanaken and 55 % in Zonhoven, that is between 19 and 13 pp lower 
than in Limburg (68 %) and between 24 and 18 pp lower than in Flanders (73 %)11. 
Furthermore,  the  ratio  of  job  seekers  to  vacancies  in  Lanaken  and  its  surrounding 
area (Maasland) is 4,5 (about twice the ratio in Flanders)12. The territories concerned 
by the redundancies are less prosperous than the region in which they are located . 

In addition, a restructuring event in the Netherlands is also having an impact in the 
labour  market  of  Maasland.  The  Dutch  car  manufacturer  VDL  reported  a  loss  of 
about  2 000 jobs  as from  1 March 2024 in  its  production plant in  Born13, of which 
700 were cross-border workers living in Maasland. 

As  regards  employment  opportunities,  the  number  of  industrial  jobs  available  in 
Limburg  decreased  by  15 %  in  2023,  compared  to  the  previous  year14.  In  addition, 
the majority of the vacancies were not in Maasland or Zonhoven, but Hasselt-Genk. 

In 2023, the unemployment rate in Flanders was 3,3 %. However, the unemployment 
rate was 5,7 % for workers with a low level of education and 7,1 % for workers with 
a  migrant  background15.  Older  workers  also  face  more  barriers  to  employment.  In 

According to the EHPA, the European Heat Pump Association, in 2017 more than one million pumps 
were  sold  in  EU.  Three years  later,  in  2020,  sales  reached 1,5  million  units,  while  in  2022  and 2023 
sales were 2,76 and 2,64 million units respectively. 
Purmo’s notification to the Work Council (11 May 2023). 
Purmo’s notification to the Work Council (11 May 2023). 
Provinciale  Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij  Limburg  (POM  Limburg)’s  key  figures  presentation  on 
Sappi/Lanaken/Maasland (12 October/2023); https://www.limburgradar.be/kerncijfers/ 
https://arvastat.vdab.be/arvastat_arbeidsmarkt.html 
https://www.vdlcropteqrobotics.com/en/news/archief/vdl-nedcar-to-reduce-number-of-employees-by-2-

12 
13 
000-by-1-march-2024 
14 
15 

www.vdab.be/trendsdoc/beroepen/index.html 
Statistiek Vlaanderen. 

18. 

19. 

20. 

21. 

22. 

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9 
10 
11 

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2023, the regional average employment rate was 76,8 %16, whereas it was 60,8 % for 
people aged 55 and above. 

23. 

Considering  the  profile  of  the  redundant  workers,  one  third  of  which  are  aged  55 
years or more and 30 % are with low education, along with the downward trend in 
vacancies and its geographical distribution, the workers will need additional tailored 
support to help them succeed the transition to employment. 

Application of the EU Quality Framework for anticipation of change and restructuring 

(QFR) 

24. 

25. 

26. 

27. 

Belgium  has  described  how  the  recommendations  set  out  in  the  EU  Quality 
Framework  for  anticipation  of  change  and  restructuring  have  been  taken  into 
account. 

The  dismissing  enterprises  complied  with  Belgian  law  on  collective  redundancies, 
which  establishes  a  mandatory  procedure  for  informing  and  consulting  workers' 
representatives.  The  procedure  makes  it  possible  to  explore  any  possibility  of 
avoiding  or  reducing  the  number  of  redundancies.  It  also  seeks  to  mitigate  the 
consequences  of  job  loss  through  complementary  social  measures,  such  as  support 
for redeployment or retraining of redundant workers. 
Belgium  has  reported  that  national  labour  law 17  on  the  active  management  of 
restructuring requires  enterprises undergoing restructuring to  set  up an employment 
unit,  whose  purpose  is  to  provide  workers  laid  off  in  the  context  of  collective 
redundancies with 30 hours of outplacement services in a period of three months (60 
hours over six months for workers aged 45+). 

Regarding  the  activities  undertaken  to  assist  the  displaced  workers,  Belgium  has 
reported  that  the  first  information  sessions  to  the  workers  started  on  26  December 
2023 and the employment units followed immediately after the redundancies. On 13 
March 2024, the Public Employment Services in Flanders (VDAB18) organised a job 
fair  in  Lanaken  for  former  Sappi  and  Purmo  workers,  with  around  20  enterprises 
taking part. Along with the invitation, VDAB offered advice on how to prepare for 
the visit to make the most of it and how to successfully approach companies at the 
fair.  

Complementarity with actions funded by national or Union funds 

28. 

29. 

Belgium  has  confirmed  that  the  measures  described  below  receiving  a  financial 
contribution  from  the  EGF  will  not  also  receive  financial  contributions  from  other 
Union financial instruments. 

The  coordinated  package  of  personalised  services  complements  actions  funded  by 
other national or EU funds. 

Procedures  for  consulting  the  targeted  beneficiaries  or  their  representatives  or  the  social 
partners as well as local and regional authorities 

30. 

Belgium  has  indicated  that  the  co-ordinated  package  of  personalised  services  has 
been  drawn  up  in  consultation  with  the  social  partners,  in  compliance  with  Article 
7(4)  of  Regulation  (EU)  2021/691.  Trade  unions  and  employer  organisations  are 
involved  in  VDAB's  activities  at  all  levels.  In  addition  of  being  part  of  VDAB's 

16 
17 
18 

Statistiek Vlaanderen. 
The Royal Decree of 10 November 2006 amending the Royal Decree of 9 March 2006. 
Vlaamse Dienst voor Arbeidsbemiddeling en Beroepsopleiding (VDAB). 

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Board  of  Directors,  social  partners  along  with  other  actors  at  regional  (Flanders), 
provincial  and  local  levels  work  in  close  cooperation  with  VDAB  at  operational 
level. 

Targeted beneficiaries and proposed measures 

Targeted beneficiaries 

31. 

The estimated number of displaced workers expected to participate in the measures is 
632. Pursuant  to  Article  8(7), point (f), of Regulation (EU) 2021/691,  the provided 
breakdown  of  these  workers  by  gender,  age  group  and  educational  level  is  as 
follows: 

Category 

Gender: 

Men: 

Women: 

Non-binary 

Age group: 

Below 30 years: 

Educational 
level 

30-54 years: 

Over 54 years: 

Lower  secondary 
education or less19  
Upper  secondary20 
or  post-secondary 
education21 

Tertiary 
education22 

Number of  
expected 
beneficiaries 

604 

(95,6 %) 

28 

0 

55 

(4,4 %) 

(0,0 %) 

(8,7 %) 

355 

222 

(56,2 %) 

(35,1 %) 

184 

(29,1 %) 

338 

(53,5 %) 

110 

(17,4 %) 

Proposed measures 

32. 

Pursuant  to  Article  8(7),  point  (h)  of  Regulation  (EU)  2021/691,  the  personalised 
coordinated  package  to  be  provided  to  displaced  workers  consists  of  the  following 
measures:  

– 

– 

Social  Intervention  Advisor  (SIA):  A  social  intervention  advisor  is  the  first 
service  provided  to  laid-off  workers.  The  service  begins  by  providing 
information  about  the  support  available  to  facilitate  the  workers'  transition  to 
employment.  The  SIA  are  a  point  of  reference  for  workers  throughout  the 
process. 

Guidance,  counselling,  and  vocational  orientation:  Based  on  the  initial 
profiling  interviews,  counsellors  will  provide  workers  with  motivational  and 
inspirational  help  and  support  and  inform  about  developments  on  the  job 
market and possible career paths. Workers shall be encouraged to upgrade their 

19 
20 
21 
22 

ISCED 0-2 
ISCED 3 
ISCED 4 
ISCED 5-8 

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skills  or  to  learn  new  skills  and  participate  in  training  measures  aimed  at 
finding  new  employment.  Counsellors  also  support  the  workers  in  their  job-
search activities, assisting them with the job application process, preparing for 
job interviews, etc.  

Reinforced career guidance is planned for workers with greater distance to the 
profiles  requested  in  the  available  job  vacancies  or  with  poor  command  of 
Dutch. 

Active  job-search  support:  Among  other  support  activities,  this  includes  job 
scouting to locate potential job vacancies that are not yet published and which 
might  suit  eligible  workers.  Furthermore,  a  variety  of  job  search  events,  like 
job fairs, will be organised. 

Training,  retraining  and  vocational  training:  Workers  will  have  access  to  the 
standard  training  offer  of  VDAB.  In  addition,  upon  agreement  of  individual 
projects with the vocational counsellor, specific training will be offered to cater 
for the identified needs. 

Training at the workplace: Workers receive on-the-job training at the enterprise 
that will employ them after training. Depending on the needs of the worker, the 
training  can  last  between  4  and  26  weeks.  Training  is  followed  by  an 
employment  contract,  either  permanent  or  fixed  term  of  at  least  the  same 
duration as the training. 

– 

– 

– 

33. 

34. 

35. 

36. 

VDAB's standard support to redundant workers includes digital tools and training in 
digital  skills.  Workers  also  learn  how  to  make  the  most  of  various  VDAB  digital 
platforms,  such  as the job vacancies  database, or how to  sucessfully  apply  for jobs 
online through specific coaching. VDAB’s training offer also provides for the skills 
required  in  a  resource  efficient  economy.  This  caters  for  the  dissemination  of    the 
skills  required  in  the  digital  industrial  age  and  in  a  resource-efficient  economy,  as 
required by Article 7(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/691.  

The  proposed  actions,  here  described,  constitute  active  labour  market  policy 
measures  within  the  eligible  actions  set  out  in  Article  7  of  Regulation  (EU) 
2021/691. These actions do not substitute passive social protection measures.  

Regarding  the  activities  undertaken  to  assist  the  displaced  workers,  Belgium  has 
reported that the redeployment unit was set up shortly after the redundancies. 

Belgium has provided the required information on  measures that are mandatory for 
the  enterprise  concerned  by  virtue  of  national  law  or  pursuant  to  collective 
agreements. In accordance with Article 9(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/691, Belgium 
has  confirmed  that  a  financial  contribution  from  the  EGF  will  not  replace  such 
measures. 

Estimated budget 

37. 

The  estimated 
personalised  services  of  EUR 1 126 559  and  expenditure 
management, 
EUR 47 000. 

total  costs  are  EUR 1 173 559,  comprising  expenditure  for 
for  preparatory, 
information  and  publicity,  control  and  reporting  activities  of 

38. 

The  total  financial  contribution  requested  from  the  EGF  is  EUR 704 135  (60 %  of 
total costs). 

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39. 

Pursuant  to  Article  8(7),  point  (m),  of  Regulation  (EU)  2021/691,  Belgium  has 
specified that the national pre-financing and co-funding is provided by VDAB23. 

Measures 

Estimated 
number of 
participants 

Estimated cost 
per participant 
(EUR)24 

Estimated total 
costs 
(EUR)25  

Personalised services (measures under Article 7(2), second subparagraph, point (a), of Regulation 
(EU) 2021/691) 

Social Intervention Advisor  
(De sociaal interventie-adviseurs) 

Guidance, counselling, and vocational 
orientation  
(Actieve bemiddeling en begeleiding naar 
werk & Bemiddeling en begeleiding naar 
werk via tenderpartners)  

Active job-search support  
(Dedicated accountmanager voor contacten 
met werkgevers)  

Training, retraining and vocational training 
(Aanbod opleidingen in eigen beheer & 
Aanbod erkende opleidingen bij partners) 

Training at the workplace  
(Opleiding in de onderneming - IBO)  

632 

60 

38 044 

220 

2 815 

619 352 

632 

120 

76 088 

40 

10 

9 587 

383 475 

960 

9 600 

Sub-total (a): 
Percentage of the package of personalised 
services  

– 

1 126 559 

(100 %) 

Allowances and incentives (measures under Article 7(2), second subparagraph, point (b), of 
Regulation (EU) 2021/691) 

Incentives and allowances 

0 

0 

Sub-total (b): 
Percentage of the package of personalised 
services: 

Activities under Article 7(5) of Regulation (EU) 2021/691 

1. Preparatory activities 

2. Management 

3. Information and publicity 

4. Control and reporting 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

0 

0 

(0,00 %) 

6 000 

10 000 

0 

31 000 

23 
24 

25 

Vlaamse Dienst voor Arbeidsbemiddeling en Beroepsopleiding.  

To avoid decimals, the estimated costs per worker have been rounded. However, the rounding has no 
impact on the total cost of each measure, which remains as in the application submitted by Belgium. 
Totals do not tally due to rounding. 

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Sub-total (c): 
Percentage of the total costs : 

Total costs (a + b + c): 

EGF contribution (60 % of total costs) 

Period of eligibility of expenditure 

– 

– 

– 

47 000 

(4,00 %) 

1 173 559 

704 135 

40. 

41. 

Belgium  started  providing the personalised services to  the targeted beneficiaries on 
26 December 2023. The expenditure on the measures will therefore be eligible for a 
financial contribution  from  the EGF  from  26 December 2023 until  24 months after 
the date of the entry into force of the Financing Decision. 

Belgium  started  incurring  the  administrative  expenditure  to  implement  the  EGF  on 
20 November 2023. The expenditure for preparatory, management, information and 
publicity,  control  and  reporting  activities  shall  therefore  be  eligible  for  a  financial 
contribution from the EGF from 20 November 2023 until 31 months after the date of 
the entry into force of the Financing Decision.  

Management and control systems 

42. 

The  application  contains  a  description  of  the  management  and  control  system 
required  under  Article  23  of  Regulation  (EU)  2021/691,  which  specifies  the 
responsibilities of the bodies involved. Belgium has notified the Commission that the 
financial  contribution  will  be  managed  by  VDAB.  The  payments  will  be  made  by 
VDAB’s  financial  service.  The  Department  of  Finance  and  Budget  -  Audit  Unit  of 
the Flemish Audit Authority for the European Structural Funds is the audit authority 
for the EGF. 

Commitments provided by the Member State concerned 

43. 

Belgium has provided all necessary assurances regarding the following:  

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

the principles of equality of treatment and non-discrimination will be respected 
in access to the proposed measures and their implementation, 

the  requirements  laid  down  in  national  and  EU  legislation  concerning 
collective redundancies have been complied with, 

The dismissing enterprises, which have continued their activities after the lay-
offs, have complied with their legal obligations and provided for their workers 
accordingly, 

any double financing will be prevented, 

the  financial  contribution  from  the  EGF  will  comply  with  the  procedural  and 
material Union rules on State aid. 

BUDGETARY IMPLICATION 

Budgetary proposal 

44. 

The  EGF  shall  not  exceed  a  maximum  annual  amount  of  EUR 30  million  (in  2018 
prices), as laid down in Article 8 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 of 
17  December  2020  laying  down  the  multiannual  financial  framework  for  the  years 

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45. 

46. 

2021  to  2027 26 amended  by  Council  Regulation  (EU,  Euratom)  2024/765  of  29 
February 202427. 

Having examined the application in respect of the conditions set out in Article 13(1) 
and (2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/691, and having taken into account the number of 
targeted  beneficiaries,  the  proposed  measures  and  the  estimated  costs,  the 
Commission  proposes  to  mobilise  the  EGF  for  the  amount  of  EUR 704 135, 
representing 60 % of the total costs of the proposed measures, in order to provide a 
financial contribution for the application. 

The  proposed  decision  to  mobilise  the  EGF  will  be  taken  jointly  by  the  European 
Parliament  and  the  Council  pursuant  to  Article  15(1),  first  subparagraph,  second 
sentence,  of  Regulation  (EU)  2021/691  and  as  laid  down  in  point  9  of  the 
the  European 
Interinstitutional  Agreement  of  16  December  2020  between 
Parliament,  the  Council  of  the  European  Union  and  the  European  Commission  on 
budgetary  discipline,  on  cooperation  in  budgetary  matters  and  on  sound  financial 
management,  as  well  as  on  new  own  resources,  including  a  roadmap  towards  the 
introduction of new own resources28. 

Related acts 

47. 

48. 

At the same time as it presents this proposal for a decision to mobilise the EGF, the 
Commission will present to the European Parliament and to the Council a proposal to 
transfer to the relevant budgetary line the amount of EUR 704 135. 

At the same time as it adopted this proposal for a decision to mobilise the EGF, the 
Commission  adopted  a  decision  on  a  financial  contribution  that  constitutes  a 
financing  decision  within  the  meaning  of  Article  110  of  Regulation  (EU,  Euratom) 
2024/250929. That financing decision will enter into force on the date on which the 
Commission  is  notified  of  the  approval  of  the  budgetary  transfer  by  the  European 
Parliament  and  the  Council  pursuant  to  Article  15(2),  first  subparagraph,  of 
Regulation (EU) 2021/691. 

26 
27 
28 
29 

OJ L 433 I, 22.12.2020, p. 11. 
OJ L 2024/765, 29.2.2024, p 4  
OJ L 433 I, 22.12.2020, p. 28. 
Regulation (EU, Euratom) Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 of the European Parliament and of the 
Council  of  23  September  2024  on  the  financial  rules  applicable  to  the  general  budget  of  the  Union 
(recast), OJ L, 2024/2509, 26.9.2024.  

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2024/0286 (BUD) 

Proposal for a 

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 

on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced 
Workers following an application from Belgium – EGF/2024/002 BE/Limburg 
machinery and paper 

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, 

Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/691 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 
28 April 2021 on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) 
and  repealing  Regulation  (EU)  No 1309/2013 30 ,  and  in  particular  Article 15(1),  first 
subparagraph, thereof, 

Having  regard  to  the  Interinstitutional  Agreement  of  16  December  2020  between  the 
European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission on 
budgetary  discipline,  on  cooperation  in  budgetary  matters  and  on  sound  financial 
management, as well as on new own resources, including a roadmap towards the introduction 
of new own resources31, and in particular point 9 thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund  for  Displaced  Workers (EGF)  aims to 
demonstrate solidarity and promote decent and sustainable employment in the Union 
by  providing  support  for  workers  made  redundant  and  self-employed  persons  whose 
activity  has  ceased  in  the  case  of  major  restructuring  events  and  assisting  them  in 
returning to decent and sustainable employment as soon as possible.  

The  EGF  is  not  to  exceed  a  maximum  annual  amount  of  EUR 30  million  (in  2018 
prices),  as laid down in  Article 8 of Council Regulation  (EU, Euratom)  2020/209332 
amended  by  Council  Regulation  (EU,  Euratom)  2024/765 33  and  Article  16  of 
Regulation (EU) 2021/691. 

On  19  July  2024,  Belgium  submitted  an  application  to  mobilise  the  EGF  in 
accordance  with  Article  8(1)  of  Regulation  (EU)  2021/691,  in  respect  of  worker’s 
displacements  in  the  economic  sectors  classified  under  the  NACE  Revision  2 
division 17 (Manufacture of paper and paper products) and division 28 (Manufacture 
of machinery and equipment) in the NUTS 2 region of Provincie Limburg (BE22) in 
Belgium. It was supplemented by additional information provided in accordance with 
Article 8(5) of Regulation (EU) 2021/691. That application is considered to comply 
with the conditions for providing a financial contribution from the EGF as laid down 

30 
31 
32 

33 

OJ L 153, 3.5.2021, p. 48. 
OJ L 433 I, 22.12.2020, p. 28 
Council  Regulation  (EU,  Euratom)  2020/2093  of  17  December  2020  laying  down  the  multiannual 
financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027 (OJ L 433 I, 22.12.2020, p. 11). 
OJ L 2024/765, 29.2.2024, p 4. 

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in Article 13 of Regulation (EU) 2021/691, on the basis of the assessment made by 
the  Commission  in  the  Proposal  for  a  mobilisation  decision  of  the  European 
Parliament and of the Council34. 

(4) 

(5) 

The EGF should, therefore, be mobilised in order to provide a financial contribution of 
EUR 704 135 in respect of the application submitted by Belgium. 

In  order  to  minimise  the  time  taken  to  mobilise  the  EGF,  this  decision  should  apply 
from the date of its adoption, 

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION:  

For the general budget of the Union for the financial year 2024, the European Globalisation 
Adjustment  Fund  for  Displaced  Workers  shall  be  mobilised  to  provide  the  amount  of 
EUR 704 135 in commitment and payment appropriations. 

Article 1 

Article 2 

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the 
European Union. It shall apply from [the date of its adoption]* 

Done at Brussels, 

For the European Parliament 
The President 

For the Council 
The President 

34 
* 

COM(2024) 370 
Date to be inserted by the Parliament before the publication in OJ. 

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