Date: 10-Jan-2025Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Decision (EU) 2025/47 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2024 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
This is a decision by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union to mobilize the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) for Displaced Workers following an application from Belgium.
The application, EGF/2024/002 BE/Limburg machinery and paper, relates to worker displacements in the Provincie Limburg (BE22) region of Belgium, specifically in the manufacturing of paper and paper products (NACE Revision 2 division 17) and the manufacture of machinery and equipment (NACE Revision 2 division 28) sectors.
The decision approves the mobilization of EUR 704,135 from the EGF to provide financial support to the displaced workers.
Key Changes
A financial contribution of EUR 704,135 will be mobilized from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers to support displaced workers in Belgium.
The funding is specifically targeted at workers displaced in the Provincie Limburg region (BE22) within the paper and machinery manufacturing sectors (NACE Revision 2 divisions 17 and 28).
The decision is based on an application submitted by Belgium on 19 July 2024, which was assessed by the Commission and found to comply with the conditions for providing a financial contribution from the EGF.
The decision applies retroactively from 18 December 2024 and entered into force on 10 January 2025.
Impact Analysis
Impact on Displaced Workers in Limburg, Belgium
Action Item: Relevant Belgian authorities should ensure efficient and timely distribution of the funds and provision of support services to the eligible displaced workers.
Impact on the Belgian Government
Action Item: The Belgian government needs to coordinate with relevant regional authorities to implement the support measures and ensure proper reporting and accountability for the use of the EGF funds.
Impact on the EU Budget
Action Item: The European Commission will oversee the implementation of the support measures in Belgium and monitor the effectiveness of the EGF in achieving its objectives.
Impact on Businesses in Limburg, Belgium
Action Item: Local business organizations can collaborate with the Belgian government to ensure that retraining programs align with the skills needs of the regional economy.
Key Entities Referenced
European Parliament: One of the two legislative branches of the European Union, directly elected by EU citizens.
Council of the European Union: One of the two legislative branches of the European Union, representing the governments of the member states.
European Commission: The executive branch of the European Union, responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, and managing the EU budget.
European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF): An EU fund that provides support to workers who have been made redundant as a result of major structural changes in world trade patterns due to globalisation.
Belgium: A member state of the European Union that submitted the application for EGF funding.
Provincie Limburg (BE22): A NUTS 2 region in Belgium that is the target area for the EGF support.
Regulation (EU) 2021/691: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013.
Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093: Council Regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027.
Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/765: Council Regulation amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027.
NACE Revision 2 division 17: Statistical classification of economic activities in the European Community, referring to the Manufacture of paper and paper products.
NACE Revision 2 division 28: Statistical classification of economic activities in the European Community, referring to the Manufacture of machinery and equipment.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2025/47 10.1.2025
DECISION (EU) 2025/47 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 18 December 2024
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 (1),
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
resources (2), and in particular point 9 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1) 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.
(2) 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) 2020/2093 (3), amended by Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/765 (4) and
Article 16 of Regulation (EU) 2021/691.
(3) 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 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 Council (5).
(4) 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.
(5) 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:
Article 1
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.
(1) OJ L 153, 3.5.2021, p. 48, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/691/oj.
(2) OJ L 433 I, 22.12.2020, p. 28, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_interinstit/2020/1222/oj.
(3) 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, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2020/2093/oj).
(4) Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/765 of 29 February 2024 amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 laying down the
multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027 (OJ L, 2024/765, 29.2.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/
765/oj).
(5) COM(2024) 370.
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/47/oj 1/2EN
OJ L, 10.1.2025
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 18 December 2024.
Done at Strasbourg, 18 December 2024.
For the European Parliament For the Council
The President The President
R. METSOLA ZSIGMOND B. P.
2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/47/oj