European Commission Proposes to Support Thousands of Laid Off Workers in Belgium with €7.5 Million
Saturday, January 10, 2026
The European Commission has proposed to mobilise €7.5 million from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) to help 3,414 workers dismissed after the closure of carmaker Audi's plant in Brussels.
In February 2025, Audi stopped producing the Q8 e-tron car model in Brussels and closed its plant. As a consequence, several suppliers of Audi also dismissed workers.
The EGF-funded measures will help 2,580 former Audi workers and 834 workers from Audi's suppliers learn new skills and rejoin the labour market. The funding will finance measures such as career counselling and guidance, or training in new professional and horizontal skills, and support dismissed workers to launch their own businesses.
The total estimated cost of these measures is €8.8 million, with 85% (€7.5 million) covered by the European Commission and 15% (€1.3 million) by the Belgian Regional Public Employment Services.
The Belgian authorities began providing support from the EGF to workers in February 2025, shortly before the first layoffs and after support services for workers, provided by Audi, ended. The EGF can retroactively cover these costs.
The Commission proposal now requires approval by the European Parliament and the Council. It needs a simple majority in the European Parliament and a qualified majority in the Council.
