Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers following an application from Belgium – EGF/2025/006 BE/ Audi

AM_Com_NonLegReport

Amendment 1

Angéline Furet

Motion for a resolution

Recital A

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

A. whereas the Union has set up legislative and budgetary instruments to provide additional support to workers who are suffering from the consequences of major structural events and changes in world trade patterns, and to assist their reintegration into the labour market; whereas this assistance is made through a financial support given to workers;

A. whereas the Union has set up legislative and budgetary instruments to provide additional support to workers who are suffering from the consequences of major structural events and changes in world trade patterns, as well as the European Union's climate and environmental policies, and to assist their reintegration into the labour market; whereas this assistance is made through a financial support given to workers;

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Amendment 2

Angéline Furet

Motion for a resolution

Recital B

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

B. whereas Belgium submitted application EGF/2025/006 BE/Audi for a financial contribution from the EGF following 3 414 displacements5 in the economic sector classified under the NACE Revision 2 division 29 (Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers) in the regions of Bruxelles Capitale (BE10), Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen (BE23) and Provincie Hainaut (BE32) with 3 148 displacements within a reference period from 28 February 2025 to 28 June 2025, comprising 2 580 displaced workers whose activity ceased in Audi S.A./n.V. (Audi) and its subsidiaries, and 568 displaced workers in 5 suppliers and downstream producers, and 266 displacements before or after the reference period;

B. whereas Belgium submitted application EGF/2025/006 BE/Audi for a financial contribution from the EGF following 3 414 displacements5 in the economic sector classified under the NACE Revision 2 division 29 (Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers) concerning a production site dedicated exclusively to the electric Q8 e-tron model, in the regions of Bruxelles Capitale (BE10), Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen (BE23) and Provincie Hainaut (BE32) with 3 148 displacements within a reference period from 28 February 2025 to 28 June 2025, comprising 2 580 displaced workers whose activity ceased in Audi S.A./n.V. (Audi) and its subsidiaries, and 568 displaced workers in 5 suppliers and downstream producers, and 266 displacements before or after the reference period;

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5 Within the meaning of Article 3 of the EGF Regulation.

5 Within the meaning of Article 3 of the EGF Regulation.

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Amendment 3

Angéline Furet

Motion for a resolution

Recital D

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

D. whereas in the concerned plant of Audi only one model was produced, with production discontinued earlier than planned due to high production costs linked to the plant's location; whereas the plant shut down on 28 February 2025;

D. whereas in the concerned plant of Audi only one model was produced, with production discontinued earlier than planned as a direct consequence of declining overall demand for electric cars in Europe, reduced growth forecasts and agressive global competition exacerbating high production costs linked to the plant's location; whereas the plant shut down on 28 February 2025;

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Amendment 4

Angéline Furet

Motion for a resolution

Recital F

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

F. whereas the requirements laid down in Union and national legislation concerning collective redundancies have been met;

F. whereas the requirements laid down in the European Union and national legislation concerning collective redundancies have been met;

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Amendment 5

Angéline Furet

Motion for a resolution

Recital G

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

G. whereas financial contributions from the EGF should be primarily directed at active labour market policy measures and personalised services that aim to reintegrate beneficiaries rapidly into decent and sustainable employment, while preparing them for a greener and more digital European economy;

G. whereas financial contributions from the EGF should be primarily directed at active labour market policy measures and personalised services that aim to reintegrate beneficiaries rapidly into decent and stable employment, valuing and preserving their industrial know-how within the European Union;

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Amendment 6

Isabel Benjumea Benjumea

Motion for a resolution

Recital G

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

G. whereas financial contributions from the EGF should be primarily directed at active labour market policy measures and personalised services that aim to reintegrate beneficiaries rapidly into decent and sustainable employment, while preparing them for a greener and more digital European economy;

G. whereas financial contributions from the EGF should be primarily directed at active labour market policy measures and personalised services that aim to reintegrate beneficiaries rapidly into the labour market while offering them skills training to facilitate their access to the labour market;

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Amendment 7

Alexander Jungbluth

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1 a. Stresses that EGF support measures should remain temporary and targeted;

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Amendment 8

Alexander Jungbluth

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1 b. Reiterates that EGF assistance must remain complementary and must not replace obligations of companies under national law or collective agreements;

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Amendment 9

Angéline Furet

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4. Takes note that the increment in bankruptcies over the past two years has considerably increased the unemployment rate in some regions in Belgium, particularly in Brussels and Hainaut (Wallonia); emphasizes that unemployment risk correlates with education level and one in two individuals with low education and one in three with medium education face higher unemployment risk, with these groups comprising 83 % of displaced workers; regrets that these displacements will further aggravate the situation; calls on Belgian authorities to take measures to reduce bankruptcies and address social disparities leading to exclusion of work force, such as gender inequalities and low level of education;

4. Takes note that the increment in bankruptcies over the past two years has considerably increased the unemployment rate in some regions in Belgium, particularly in Brussels and Hainaut (Wallonia); emphasizes that unemployment risk correlates with education level and one in two individuals with low education and one in three with medium education face higher unemployment risk, with these groups comprising 83 % of displaced workers; regrets that these displacements will further aggravate the situation; considers that this wave of bankruptcies is the direct consequence of Europe's loss of industrial competitiveness; therefore calls on the Union and the Belgian authorities to urgently address the structural causes, in particular exploding energy costs and the regulatory burden, rather than focusing on social criteria disconnected from the causes of these redundancies;

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Amendment 10

Monika Hohlmeier

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4 a. Stresses that swift action is needed to prevent structural regional decline and emphasises the importance of fostering high-quality, future-oriented jobs to ensure long-term economic and social resilience.

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Amendment 11

Matthias Ecke

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5. Deplores that Audi ceased activities in Belgium while still gaining profits, and that production will be moved to China and Mexico to maximize company’s profits while making 3 414 people redundant; regrets that reluctance towards timely and sufficient deployment of cheaper energy sources contributed to Audi’s facilities relocation outside the Union;

5. Notes that the global market for the production and sale of cars, particularly electric cars, is characterised by increasingly aggressive global competition; highlights the growing challenges faced by European car manufacturers in bringing innovative and affordable models to the market in future-oriented segments like battery-electric vehicles; deplores that Audi ceased activities in Belgium and that production will be moved closer to locations with higher demand than Europe, namely to China and Mexico, while making 3 414 people redundant; considers that a more timely and sufficient deployment of cheaper clean energy sources in the EU could have contributed to maintaining the competiveness of Audi’s facilities in Belgium;

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Amendment 12

Angéline Furet

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5. Deplores that Audi ceased activities in Belgium while still gaining profits, and that production will be moved to China and Mexico to maximize company’s profits while making 3 414 people redundant; regrets that reluctance towards timely and sufficient deployment of cheaper energy sources contributed to Audi’s facilities relocation outside the Union;

5. Deplores that Audi ceased activities in Belgium while still gaining profits, and that production will be moved to China and Mexico to maximize company’s profits while making 3 414 people redundant; denounces the fact that exploding production costs, resulting directly from the European Union's energy policy and its ideological hostility towards nuclear energy – a dispatchable, low-cost and low-carbon source –, as well as unfair competition exacerbated by naive free trade agreements, have actively favoured this relocation outside the European Union;

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Amendment 13

Monika Hohlmeier

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5. Deplores that Audi ceased activities in Belgium while still gaining profits, and that production will be moved to China and Mexico to maximize company’s profits while making 3 414 people redundant; regrets that reluctance towards timely and sufficient deployment of cheaper energy sources contributed to Audi’s facilities relocation outside the Union;

5. Regrets that Audi ceased its activities in Belgium despite remaining profitable, and that production is being relocated to China and Mexico, resulting in the redundancy of 3 414 workers; notes with concern that challenging production conditions, including access to cheaper energy sources, and insufficient domestic demand have contributed to the relocation of Audi’s facilities outside the Union;

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Amendment 14

Isabel Benjumea Benjumea

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5. Deplores that Audi ceased activities in Belgium while still gaining profits, and that production will be moved to China and Mexico to maximize company’s profits while making 3 414 people redundant; regrets that reluctance towards timely and sufficient deployment of cheaper energy sources contributed to Audi’s facilities relocation outside the Union;

5. Deplores that Audi ceased activities in Belgium, and that production will be moved to China and Mexico while making 3 414 people redundant; regrets that reluctance towards timely and sufficient deployment of cheaper energy sources contributed to Audi’s facilities relocation outside the Union;

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Amendment 15

Monika Hohlmeier

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5 a. Emphasises that the closure of the plant after more than 70 years of operation, notwithstanding its production of electric vehicles, demonstrates that the challenges facing European industry are of a structural nature, rather than being solely technological;

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Amendment 16

Angéline Furet

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6. Stresses the importance of finding a solution for repurposing the closed factory to create jobs in the region; urges Belgian authorities to undertake necessary steps to facilitate opening of a new manufacturing site at the former Audi factory;

6. Stresses the imperative of finding a solution for the industrial repurposing the closed factory to safeguard productive capacities and create jobs in the region; recalls that the deindustrialisation of Europe constitutes a threat to its economic sovereignty; urges Belgian authorities to undertake necessary steps to facilitate opening of a new manufacturing site at the former Audi factory;

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Amendment 17

Matthias Ecke

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6. Stresses the importance of finding a solution for repurposing the closed factory to create jobs in the region; urges Belgian authorities to undertake necessary steps to facilitate opening of a new manufacturing site at the former Audi factory;

6. Stresses the importance of finding a sustainable solution for repurposing the closed factory to create high-quality jobs in the region; urges Belgian authorities to undertake necessary steps to facilitate opening of a new manufacturing site at the former Audi factory;

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Amendment 18

Matthias Ecke

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6 a. Emphasizes that the qualifications and skills of the laid-off workers remain key to a future-proof European economy that accomplishes the green transition while maintaining a strong industrial base; considers therefore that the mobilisation of the EGF needs to be embedded in a larger policy response on all political levels to ensure that the workers affected find adequate opportunities in line with their qualifications and skills;

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Amendment 19

Angéline Furet

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7. Recalls that, in agreement with trade unions and social partners, personalised services to be provided to the workers consist of the following measures: counselling and information and placement services; training, including IT skills; job day; contribution to business start-up; incentives for participation in job-search activities; emphasises the importance of fostering high-quality, future-oriented jobs to ensure long-term economic and social resilience;

7. Recalls that, in agreement with trade unions and social partners, personalised services to be provided to the workers consist of the following measures: counselling and information and placement services; training, including IT skills; job day; contribution to business start-up; incentives for participation in job-search activities; emphasises the importance of fostering high-quality, stable industrial jobs to ensure long-term economic and social resilience;

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Amendment 20

Angéline Furet

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8. Stresses that the Belgian authorities shall ensure the visibility of the Union funding and highlight its added value by providing effective and targeted information to beneficiaries, regional and local authorities, social partners, and the wider public;

8. Stresses that the Belgian authorities shall ensure the visibility of the European Union funding and highlight its added value by providing effective and targeted information to beneficiaries, regional and local authorities, social partners, and the wider public;

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Amendment 21

Monika Hohlmeier

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9. Calls for thorough final evaluations of the measures implemented, including clear information on how the funds have been used and whether they were spent in line with the approved plans;

9. Calls for thorough final evaluations of the measures implemented, including clear information on how the funds have been used and whether they were spent in line with the approved plans, including data on the number of workers successfully reintegrated into employment, as well as on those who have completed training and upskilling measures;

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Amendment 22

Angéline Furet

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9. Calls for thorough final evaluations of the measures implemented, including clear information on how the funds have been used and whether they were spent in line with the approved plans;

9. Calls for thorough final evaluations of the measures implemented, including clear information on how the funds have been used and whether they were spent in line with the approved plans and analysing the real reintegration rate of beneficiaries into stable and quality employment;

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Amendment 23

Alexander Jungbluth

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9. Calls for thorough final evaluations of the measures implemented, including clear information on how the funds have been used and whether they were spent in line with the approved plans;

9. Calls for thorough final evaluations of the measures implemented, including clear information on how the funds have been used, including administrative costs and measurable reintegration outcomes and whether the funds were spent in line with the approved plans;

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Amendment 24

Isabel Benjumea Benjumea

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9 a. Highlights the importance of carrying out an impact evaluation of the EGF and the measures associated with it, in order to assess whether they have actually achieved the objectives for which it was created, including an assessment of the affected workers and the jobs they have accessed, as well as the timelines involved;

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Amendment 25

Angéline Furet

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13. Reiterates that assistance from the EGF must not replace actions that are the responsibility of companies, by virtue of national law or collective agreements;

13. Reiterates that assistance from the EGF must not replace actions that are the responsibility of companies, by virtue of national law or collective agreements; insists that European solidarity must not create a windfall effect for large beneficiary groups, nor serve to financially compensate for strategic relocation choices at the expense of the European taxpayers;

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Amendment 26

Matthias Ecke

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13. Reiterates that assistance from the EGF must not replace actions that are the responsibility of companies, by virtue of national law or collective agreements;

13. Reiterates that assistance from the EGF must not replace actions that are the responsibility of companies, by virtue of national law or collective agreements; notes that the dismissing enterprises complied with Belgian law on collective redundancies;

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Amendment 27

Matthias Ecke

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13 a. Recalls that the EGF is an instrument of solidarity and just transition; while it provides support after jobs are lost, it cannot replace a proactive industrial policy; stresses that the EU’s primary task must be to prevent such closures in the first place by creating the conditions for affordable, clean and reliable energy to keep industrial production competitive, while at the same time investing massively in skills for both highly qualified workers and industrial workers;

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Amendment 28

Monika Hohlmeier

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13 a. Stresses the urgent need for coherent and coordinated EU competitiveness efforts, developed in close partnership with the Member States, in order to safeguard Europe’s industrial employment base and social security; underlines that only a robust and resilient European economy can effectively prevent large-scale redundancies, thereby reducing the need for EGF intervention in the first place;

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