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/2025/006 BE/ Audi
Date: 2026-01-09
Institutions: Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission
Subjects: Belgium, Brussels region, European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, Province of East Flanders, Walloon region (Belgium), commitment of expenditure, dismissal, employment aid, general budget (EU), globalisation, motor vehicle industry, reintegration into working life

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 9.1.2026  COM(2026) 2 final 2026/0001 (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/2025/006 BE/ Audi  
 
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  18  September  2025,  Belgium  submitted  an  application  EGF/2025/006 BE/Audi 
for  a  financial  contribution  from  the  EGF,  following  displacements  in  Audi  (Audi 
Brussels S.A.:n.V.) and its suppliers and dowstream producers 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)3 

Date of submission of the application 

EGF/2025/006 BE/Audi 

Belgium 
Région de Bruxelles-Capitale/ 
Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest (BE10), 
Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen (BE23), and 
Province Hainaut (BE32) 
18 September 2025 

Date of acknowledgement of receipt of the 
application 

18 September 2025 

Date of request for additional information 

2 October 2025 

Deadline for provision of the additional 
information 

Deadline for the completion of the 
assessment 

Intervention criterion 

Primary enterprise 

Sectors of economic activity 
(NACE Revision 2 division)4 

23 October 2025 

13 January 2026 

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

Audi (Audi Brussels S.A.:n.V.) 

Division 29 (Manufacture of motor 
vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers). 

Number of subsidiaries, suppliers and 

55 

1 
2 

3 
4 

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. 
Regions most affected, as redundancies are spread over the whole of Belgium.  
OJ L 393, 30.12.2006, p. 1. 

EN 

1 

  EN 

 
downstream producers 

Reference period (four months): 

28 February 2025 – 28 June 2025 

Number of displacements during the 
reference period (a) 

3 148 

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

266 

Total number of displacements (a + b) 

Total number of eligible beneficiaries 

Total number of targeted beneficiaries 
Budget for personalised services (EUR) 
Budget for implementing EGF6 (EUR) 
Total budget (EUR) 
EGF contribution (85 %) (EUR) 

3 414 

3 414 

3 414 
8 738 968 
117 062 
8 856 030 
7 527 625 

ASSESSMENT OF THE APPLICATION 

Procedure 

4. 

Belgium submitted application EGF/2025/006 BE/Audi within 12 weeks of the date 
on  which  the  intervention  criteria  set  out  in  Article 4  (2),  point  (a),  of  Regulation 
(EU)  2021/691  were  met,  on  18  September  2025.  The  Commission  acknowledged 
receipt  of  the  application  the  same  date  and  requested  additional  information  from 
Belgium  on  2  October  2025.  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 13 January 2026.  

Eligibility of the application 

Enterprises and beneficiaries concerned 

5. 

The application relates to 3 148 displaced workers whose activity has ceased in Audi 
(Audi Brussels S.A.:n.V.) and five suppliers and dowstream producers. The primary 
enterprise  operated  in  the  economic  sector  classified  under  the  NACE  Revision  2 
division  29  (Manufacture  of  motor  vehicles,  trailers  and  semi-trailers).  The 
redundancies  made  by  the  primary  enterprise  are  mainly  located  in  the  NUTS  2 
regions  of  Région  de  Bruxelles-Capitale/Brussels  Hoofdstedelijk  Gewest  (BE10), 
Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen (BE23), and Province Hainaut (BE32). 

Enterprises and number of displacements within the reference period 

Audi 
Lear corporation  
Rhenus automotive 
Total no. of enterprises: 6 

Total no. of eligible workers:  

2 580 

Imperial logistics 

11  Plastic Omnium 
121  Snop automotive 

272 
69 
95 

Total no. of displacements:  

3 148 

3 148 

5 

6 

The sector of economic activity of two Audi’s suppliers and downstream producers (Imperial logistics 
and Rhenus automotive) is Division 52 (Warehousing, storage and support activities for transportation). 
In accordance with Article 7(5) of Regulation (EU) 2021/691. 

EN 

2 

  EN 

 
Intervention criteria 

6. 

7. 

8. 

Belgium  submitted  the  application  under  the  intervention  criteria  of  Article 4(2), 
point (a), 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 an enterprise in 
a  Member  State,  including  workers  displaced  in  suppliers  and  downstream 
producers.  

The reference period of four months for the application runs from 28 February 2025 
to 28 June 2025. 

The cessation of activity during the reference period occurred as follows: 

– 

– 

2 580 displaced workers in Audi, and 

568 displaced workers in the five suppliers and dowstream producers of Audi. 

Calculation of displacements and of cessation of activity 

9. 

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

Eligible beneficiaries 

10. 

In addition to the workers already referred to, the eligible beneficiaries include  266 
displaced workers whose activity ceased before or after the reference period of four 
months. All these workers ceased their activity within the six months before the start 
of the reference period on 28 February 2025 and/or between the end of the reference 
period  and  the  day  before  the  adoption  of  this  proposal,  pursuant  to  Article  6,  first 
paragraph, point (b), of Regulation (EU) 2021/691, as required by Article 6, second 
paragraph, of Regulation (EU) 2021/691. A clear causal link can be established with 
the event that triggered the cessations of activity of the displaced workers during the 
reference  period  as  required  by  Article  6,  second  paragraph,  of  Regulation 
(EU) 2021/691.. 

11. 

The total number of eligible beneficiaries is 3 414. 

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

12. 

13. 

14. 

According  to  Belgian  authorities,  the  global  market  for  the  production  and  sale  of 
cars,  particularly  electric  cars,  is  facing  numerous  challenges  and  economic 
pressures,  such  as  rising  global  raw  material  costs,  aggressive  global  competition, 
and  reduced  growth  forecasts  and  declining  overall  demand  for  electric  cars  in 
Europe. 

Following  low  sales  of  the  Q8  e-tron,  the  only  model  produced  at  Audi's  plant  in 
Brussels  (Audi  BXL),  the  end  of  its  production,  initially  planned  for  2027,  was 
brought forward to 2025. Furthermore, due to the shift in demand for larger vehicles 
towards  regions  outside  Europe,  the  successor  to  the  Q8  e-tron  would  not  be 
produced at Audi BXL, but closer to markets with higher demand. 

The production costs per vehicle at Audi BXL plant were higher than at other Audi 
plants.  Structural  factors,  such  as  its  location  in  the  Brussels  metropolitan  area, 
between a residential zone and a railway line, made it difficult to optimise and adapt 

EN 

3 

  EN 

the facilities, resulting in higher costs. The absence of press lines7 and the lack of a 
nearby supplier network also  contributed to  the  higher costs,  especially  in terms  of 
logistics.  Therefore,  no  other  model  was  planned  to  be  produced  at  the  Audi  BXL 
plant  to  replace  the  Q8  e-tron,  whose  production  was  discontinued.  This  led  to  the 
cessation of operations and the closure of the plant, resulting in these displacements. 

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

15. 

16. 

17. 

18. 

19. 

20. 

7 

8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 

Job  creation in  Belgium  slowed in  2024. Only 13 400 jobs  were  created, a third of 
the  jobs  created  in  20238.  Furthermore,  bankruptcies  are  on  the  rise  since  2022.  In 
2024, more than 11 000 enterprises were declared bankrupt, the highest figure since 
20139.  This  upward  trend  has  continued,  8 483  enterprises  went  bankrupt  between 
January and September 202510. 

In terms of employment, the number of workers affected by collective redundancies 
in  2024  increased  by  68%  year-on-year11.  The  number  of  jobs  lost  due  to 
bankruptcies  reached  32 566  in  2024  (+18%  year-on-year)12,  and  22 500  in  2025 
(January to September)13. About 14% of these job losses happened in the industrial 
sector14. 
The  unemployment  rate  in  Belgium  is  5,9%15,  the  same  as  the  EU  average16. 
However,  there  are  significant  differences  between  regional  labour  markets.  The 
unemployment  rate  in  Brussels  is  11,9%,  6  percentage  points  (pp)  higher  than  the 
national  rate.  In  Wallonia,  it  is  also  higher  (+2 pp),  while  in  Flanders  it  is  2 pp 
lower17. 
Belgium,  citing  figures  from  Statbel18,  explains  that  the  level  of  education 
significantly  influences  the  employment  rate,  with  differences  of  around  20 pp 
between  the  various  groups.  The  employment  rate  for  people  with  low  levels  of 
education  is  47,9%;  for  those  with  medium  and  high  levels  the  rate  is  67,6%  and 
86,5% respectively. Gender also plays a role: men's unemployment is 1,6 pp higher 
than women's (5%)19. More than 90% of the displaced workers are men. 

Although  the  displacements  in  Audi  concern  all  of Belgium,  71% of the  redundant 
workers  are  concentrated  in  three  territories:  Hainaut  (36%),  Brussels  (18%),  and 
East Flanders (17%). 

Hainaut (Wallonia) and Brussels are disadvantaged labour markets where long-term 
unemployment  is  prevalent  (67%20  and  62%21  of  the  jobseekers,  respectively,  have 

A press line is a set of stamping and forming machines designed to mass produce metal parts such as 
chassis and car body panels. 
National Bank of Belgium Economic Review 2024, p.18. 
Statbel (bankruptcies in 2024). 
Statbel (monthly bankruptcies). 
Le Forem, Tendances et conjoncture, février 2025, p. 10 
Statbel (bankruptcies in 2024). 
Statbel (Bankruptcies and job losses in Belgium by month).   
Statbel (Bankruptcies and job losses by economic activity in Belgium by month).   
Statbel (Employment and unemployment). 
Eurostat, Euro indicators. 
Statbel (Employment and unemployment). 
Statbel (Employment and unemployment). 
Statbel (Employment and unemployment). 
Le Forem. Photo locale de la demande d’emploi. Janvier 2025. 
Région de Bruxelles-Capitale.  Demande d’emploi - Septembre 2025. 

EN 

4 

  EN 

 
been unemployed for more than 12 months). Hainaut accounts for 41% of Walloon 
jobseekers.  Almost  half  of  these  jobseekers  have  low  a  level  of  education.22.  As 
regards  their  age,  the  group  of  30-39  year  old  accounts  for  the  largest  number  of 
jobseekers (24%), followed by the over 50 year old group (22%)23. In Brussels, one 
in  four  jobseekers  is  over  50  years  old,  and  those  with  a  low  level  of  education 
(including those whose qualifications are not equivalent in Europe) account for 59% 
of the jobseekers24. Technically qualified workers  are re-entering the labour market 
relatively  quickly  in  East  Flanders.  However,  older  workers  have  far  fewer 
opportunities  to  find  new  jobs.  One  in  two  former  Audi  workers  residing  in  East 
Flanders is over 50 years old. 

21. 

Therefore, according to Belgian authorities, the impact of the displacements in Audi 
and  its  suppliers  and  downstream  producers  is  expected  to  further  aggravate  the 
situation in these labour markets.  

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

(QFR) 

22. 

23. 

24. 

25. 

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

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  reported  that  national  labour  law25  on  the  active  management  of 
restructuring  requires  enterprises  undergoing  restructuring  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  in  six  months  for  workers  aged  45+).  The 
negotiations  secured  a  specific  budget  of  EUR 1 500 000  to  cover  for  retraining 
costs. 

Regarding  the  activities  undertaken  to  assist  the  displaced  workers,  Belgium  has 
reported that the EGF measures like vocational counselling and guidance  that build 
upon  the  outplacement  services  already  mentioned,  started  after  the  outplacement 
ended.  A  job-search  event  ('job  day')  focusing  on  technical  profiles  available  in  77 
enterprises was held on 3 April 2025.  

Complementarity with actions funded by national or Union funds 

26. 

27. 

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. 

22 
23 
24 
25 

Medium secondary school or less.  
Le Forem. Photo locale de la demande d’emploi. Janvier 2025. 
Région de Bruxelles-Capitale.  Demande d’emploi - Septembre 2025. 
The Royal Decree of 10 November 2006 amending the Royal Decree of 9 March 2006. 

EN 

5 

  EN 

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

28. 

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.  Between  November  2024  and  March  2025,  the 
public  employment  services  of  Brussels26,  Flanders27  and  Wallonia28  met  the  trade 
unions29  several  times30  to  discuss  suitable  measures  to  support  the  former  Audi 
workers  in  their  transition  to  new  jobs.  Audi  workers  were  also  consulted  on  20 
February 2025.  

Targeted beneficiaries and proposed measures 

Targeted beneficiaries 

29. 

The estimated number of displaced workers expected to participate in the measures is 
3 414. 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 

Number of  
expected 
beneficiaries 

3 145 

(92.1 %) 

269 

(7.9 %) 

0 

(0.0 %) 

Age group: 

Below 30 years: 

323 

(9.5 %) 

Educational 
level 

30-54 years: 

Over 54 years: 

Lower  secondary 
education or less31  
Upper  secondary32 
or  post-secondary 
education33 

Tertiary 
education34 

2 263 

(66.3 %) 

828 

(24.3 %) 

951 

(27.9 %) 

1 889 

(55.3 %) 

574 

(16.8 %) 

26 
27 
28 
29 

30 
31 
32 
33 
34 

Actiris. 
Vlaamse Dienst voor Arbeidsbemiddeling en Beroepsopleiding (VDAB). 
Le Forem 
Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (ACV-CSC), General Labour Federation of Belgium (ABVV-
FGTB), General Confederation of Liberal Trade Unions of Belgium (ACLVB-CGSLB). 
On 4 November and 11 December 2024, 29 January and 10 March 2025 (non-exhaustive list). 
ISCED 0-2 
ISCED 3 
ISCED 4 
ISCED 5-8 

EN 

6 

  EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proposed measures 

30. 

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:  

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

 Information  services,  vocational  counselling  and  guidance,  and  placement 
services:  This  measure  builds  on  the  outplacement  services  referred  to  in 
paragraph  24  and  includes  information  sessions,  profiling  of  the  workers, 
individual coaching and support to job-search in the form of active job-search 
and  job-matching,  workshops  on  preparing  job  applications,  and  looking    for 
jobs using social networks. Information sessions on other relevant topics such 
as  taxation  or  how  to  avoid  running  into  over-indebtedness  will  also  be 
provided. Special attention is paid to the psychological impact of dismissal. 

Training  and  retraining:  After  the  workers  profiling  and  agreement  of 
individual  projects  with  the  vocational  counsellors,  specific  training  will  be 
offered to cater for the identified needs. 

Job  day:  This  job-search  event  brings  together  jobseekers  and  employers  that 
seek  to  fill  their  vacancies.  Before  attending  the  event,  counselling  sessions 
help to prepare the meeting with potential employers. 

Promotion  of  enterpreneurship:  The  measure  aims  at  workers  who  wish  to 
launch  their  own  business.  It  will  include  a  diagnosis  and  guidance  phase, 
awareness-raising  actions  on  entrepreneurship,  information  sessions  on  the 
potential  for  business  creation  through  territorial  economic  diagnoses  and 
networking with relevant entrepreneurs and with certified coaches in business 
creation. 

Contribution  to  business  start-up: The workers who start  a business  or a self-
employed  activity  will  receive  a  contribution  up  to  EUR 15 000.  The 
contribution  will  be  paid  in  two  instalments,  after  proving  the  start  and 
development of the business activity with supporting documents. 

Incentives  and  allowances:  (1) Job-search  allowances.  Workers  will  receive 
EUR 2  per  hour  of  effective  participation  in  certain  job-search  activities 
entitled  to  the  allowance.  (2) Bonus  for  improving  IT  skills.  Workers  who 
follow  both  the  module  for  access  to  and  the  one  to  strengthen  digital 
autonomy  will  receive  a  lump  sum  of  EUR 700  conditional  on  their  active 
participation and completion of the training. The bonus aims to reduce digital 
illiteracy  by  encouraging  workers  to  improve  their  IT  skills.  (3) Return-to-
school  allowance.  A  monthly  allowance  of  EUR 350  will  be  granted  to 
workers  who  embark  on  full-time  secondary  or  tertiary  studies,  or  qualifying 
training related to acquire the necessary skills for jobs that are in demand and 
for which recruiting is difficult or linked to critical functions35. (4) Allowance 
towards  business  creation.  To support workers during setting  up business, a 
monthly allowance of EUR 350 will be granted for a maximum of 12 months 
or up to 18 months under certain conditions. 

The ICT training and additional support foreseen within vocational guidance services 
and some of the trainings on offer and related allowances cater for the dissemination 

List of jobs in demand and difficult to be covered or linked to critical functions. « Métiers en tension de 
recrutement en Wallonie. Liste des métiers/fonctions critiques et en pénurie ». Le Forem 2025. 

7 

  EN 

31. 

35 

EN 

 
 
32. 

33. 

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.  

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 

34. 

35. 

36. 

The  estimated 
personalised  services  of  EUR 8 738 968  and  expenditure 
management, 
EUR 117 062. 

total  costs  are  EUR 8 856 030,  comprising  expenditure  for 
for  preparatory, 
information  and  publicity,  control  and  reporting  activities  of 

The total financial contribution requested from the EGF is EUR 7 527 625 (85 % of 
total costs). 

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  Actiris,  Le 
Forem, and Vlaamse Dienst voor Arbeidsbemiddeling en Beroepsopleiding. 

Measures 

Estimated 
number of 
participants 

Estimated cost 
per participant 
(EUR)36 

Estimated total 
costs 
(EUR)37  

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

Information services, vocational counselling 
and guidance, and placement services 
(assistance, orientation, and mobilisation / 
Link / taskforce, coaching and job placement) 

2 851 

1 789 

5 099 122 

Training and retraining 

900 

2 417 

2 175 495 

Job day  

1 181 

83 

97 881 

Promotion of enterpreneurship 

Contribution to business start-up  

50 

50 

2 557 

127 840 

10 000 

500 000 

Sub-total (a): 

– 

8 000 338 

36 

37 

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. 

EN 

8 

  EN 

 
Percentage of the package of personalised 
services: 

(91,55 %) 

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

1 367 

540 

738 630 

Incentives and allowances 
(job-serch allowance, bonus for improving IT 
skills, allowance towards business creation, 
and return to school allowance)  

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 

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

Total costs (a + b + c): 

EGF contribution (85 % of total costs) 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

738 630 

(8,45 %) 

0 

45 760 

5 500 

65 802 

117 062 

(1,32 %) 

8 856 030 

7 527 625 

37. 

38. 

The  costs  of  the  measures  identified  in  the  table  above  as  measures  under 
Article 7(2),  second  subparagraph,  point  (b),  of  Regulation  (EU)  2021/691  do  not 
exceed 35 % of the total costs for the coordinated package of personalised services. 
Belgium confirmed that these measures are conditional on the active participation of 
the targeted beneficiaries in job-search or training activities. 

In accordance with Article 7(2), fourth subparagraph, of Regulation (EU) 2021/691, 
Belgium confirmed that the costs of investments for self-employment, business start-
ups and employee take-overs will not exceed EUR 22 000 per beneficiary. 

Period of eligibility of expenditure 

39. 

40. 

Belgium  started  providing the personalised services to  the targeted beneficiaries on 
17 February 2025. The expenditure on the measures will therefore be eligible for a 
financial contribution from the EGF from 17 February 2025 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 
9 July  2024.  The  expenditure  for  preparatory,  management,  information  and 
publicity,  control  and  reporting  activities  shall  therefore  be  eligible  for  a  financial 
contribution  from  the  EGF  from  9  July  2024  until  31  months  after  the  date  of  the 
entry into force of the Financing Decision.  

Management and control systems 

41. 

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 

EN 

9 

  EN 

financial contribution in Brussels and Wallonia will be managed by the same bodies 
that  manage  and  control  the  ESF+.  In  Flanders  it  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 in Flanders. 

Commitments provided by the Member State concerned 

42. 

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, 

Audi  has  complied  with  its  legal  obligations  and  provided  for  its  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 

43. 

44. 

45. 

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 
2021  to  202738  amended  by  Council  Regulation  (EU,  Euratom)  2024/765  of  29 
February 202439. 

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 7 527 625, 
representing 85 % 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 
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 resources40. 

38 
39 
40 

OJ L 433 I, 22.12.2020, p. 11. 
OJ L, 2024/765, 29.2.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/765/oj.  
OJ L 433 I, 22.12.2020, p. 28. 

EN 

10 

  EN 

 
Related acts 

46. 

47. 

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 7 527 625. 

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) 
2024/250941. 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. 

41 

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, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2509/oj.. 

EN 

11 

  EN 

 
2026/0001 (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/2025/006 BE/ Audi 

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 1309/201342,  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 resources43, 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)  2020/209344 
amended  by  Council  Regulation  (EU,  Euratom)  2024/76545,  and  Article  16  of 
Regulation (EU) 2021/691. 

On  18  September  2025,  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  Audi  Brussels  S.A.:n.V.  and  five  of  its  suppliers  and  dowstream 
producers  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 in Article 13 of Regulation (EU) 2021/691, on the basis of the 

42 
43 
44 

45 

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, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/765/oj. 

EN 

12 

  EN 

 
assessment made by the Commission in the Proposal for a mobilisation decision of the 
European Parliament and of the Council46.  

(4) 

(5) 

The  EGF  should,  therefore,  be  mobilised  to  provide  a  financial  contribution  of 
EUR 7 527 625 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 2026, the European Globalisation 
Adjustment  Fund  for  Displaced  Workers  shall  be  mobilised  to  provide  the  amount  of 
EUR 7 527 625 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 

46 
* 

COM(2026) 2 
Date to be inserted by the Parliament before the publication in OJ. 

EN 

13 

  EN