Sittings · Document
Draft report (2026/0066(BUD)) 2026-03-23
Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers following an application from Belgium – EGF/2025/008 BE/Liberty
Committee on Budgets
Amendment 1
Angéline Furet, Julien Sanchez
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, such as deindustrialisation, unfair changes in world trade patterns, and the negative impact of several Union policies on industrial competitiveness, and to assist their reintegration into the labour market; whereas this assistance is made through a financial support given to workers; |
Or. en
Amendment 2
Hélder Sousa Silva
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| A a. whereas the support should be directed to the rapid reintegration of workers and to ensure that training, retraining and vocational training better equip workers with skills aligned to the labour market needs; |
Or. en
Amendment 3
Nicolae Ștefănuță
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| D. whereas Liberty filed for bankruptcy on 22 April 2025; whereas in Belgium bankruptcies are on the rise since 2022; | D. whereas Liberty was declared bankrupt by Liège’s Commercial Court on 22 April 2025; whereas in Belgium bankruptcies are on the rise since 2022; |
Or. en
Amendment 4
Angéline Furet, Julien Sanchez
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| D a. whereas the steel and basic metals industry is of strategic importance for the industrial sovereignty of Member States; whereas this sector is heavily impacted by the surge in energy prices, exacerbated by the structural flaws of the European electricity market, and by the disproportionate burden of European environmental regulations, which destroy the competitiveness of our industries compared to third countries; |
Or. en
Amendment 5
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 offering them skills training to facilitate their access to the labour market, 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 offering them skills training to facilitate their access to the labour market; |
Or. en
Amendment 6
Alexander Jungbluth
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 offering them skills training to facilitate their access to the labour market, 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 sustainable employment offering them skills training to facilitate their access to the labour market; |
Or. en
Amendment 7
Angéline Furet, Julien Sanchez
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 offering them skills training to facilitate their access to the labour market, 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 sustainable employment offering them skills training to facilitate their access to the labour market, while preparing them for a more competitive industrial and digital economy; |
Or. en
Amendment 8
Hélder Sousa Silva
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 offering them skills training to facilitate their access to the labour market, 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 offering them skills training to facilitate their access to the labour market, while preparing them for a more competitive and digital European economy; |
Or. en
Amendment 9
Angéline Furet, Julien Sanchez
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 4. Notes that Liberty has faced years of financial difficulties prior to the bankruptcy declaration due to adverse steel market conditions, COVID-19-related supply chain disruptions, and high energy prices following Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; notes that Liberty Steel Liège’s galvanizing lines have been idle since December 2021, mainly because of a lack of raw materials, triggering a restructuring operation that led to its legal transfer to Liberty Galaţi in 2023; regrets that production activity did not resume despite the takeover and culminated in bankruptcy; | 4. Notes that Liberty has faced years of financial difficulties prior to the bankruptcy declaration due to adverse steel market conditions, exacerbated by unfair global competition and restrictive European environmental standards, COVID-19-related supply chain disruptions, and high energy prices following Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, in a context marked by the dysfunctions of the European energy market; notes that Liberty Steel Liège’s galvanizing lines have been idle since December 2021, mainly because of a lack of raw materials, triggering a restructuring operation that led to its legal transfer to Liberty Galaţi in 2023; regrets that production activity did not resume despite the takeover and culminated in bankruptcy; |
Or. en
Amendment 10
Nicolae Ștefănuță
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 4. Notes that Liberty has faced years of financial difficulties prior to the bankruptcy declaration due to adverse steel market conditions, COVID-19-related supply chain disruptions, and high energy prices following Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; notes that Liberty Steel Liège’s galvanizing lines have been idle since December 2021, mainly because of a lack of raw materials, triggering a restructuring operation that led to its legal transfer to Liberty Galaţi in 2023; regrets that production activity did not resume despite the takeover and culminated in bankruptcy; | 4. Notes that Liberty has faced years of financial difficulties prior to the bankruptcy declaration due to adverse steel market conditions, COVID-19-related supply chain disruptions, and high energy prices following Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine combined with the Union’s dependence on imported fossil fuels and insufficient deployment of cheaper energy sources; notes that Liberty Steel Liège’s galvanizing lines have been idle since December 2021, mainly because of a lack of raw materials, triggering a restructuring operation that led to its legal transfer to Liberty Galaţi in 2023; regrets that production activity did not resume despite the takeover and culminated in bankruptcy; |
Or. en
Amendment 11
Angéline Furet, Julien Sanchez
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 5. Notes that the difficulties faced by Liberty Steel are also linked to company-specific factors following its acqisition from ArcelorMittal by the GFG Alliance; stresses serious concerns about the financial sustainability of the business model and the failure to fulfill investment commitments, which contributed to the deterioriation fo the plant’s economic situation and resulting redundancies; | 5. Notes that the difficulties faced by Liberty Steel are also linked to company-specific factors following its acqisition from ArcelorMittal by the GFG Alliance; stresses serious concerns about the financial sustainability of the business model and the failure to fulfill investment commitments, which contributed to the deterioriation fo the plant’s economic situation and resulting redundancies; points out that this situation illustrates the vulnerability of European strategic industries to foreign acquisitions and the lack of effective protection mechanisms for European economies. |
Or. en
Amendment 12
Hélder Sousa Silva
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 5. Notes that the difficulties faced by Liberty Steel are also linked to company-specific factors following its acqisition from ArcelorMittal by the GFG Alliance; stresses serious concerns about the financial sustainability of the business model and the failure to fulfill investment commitments, which contributed to the deterioriation fo the plant’s economic situation and resulting redundancies; | 5. Notes that the difficulties faced by Liberty Steel are also linked to company-specific factors following its acqisition from ArcelorMittal by the GFG Alliance; notes concerns about the financial sustainability of the business model and the failure to fulfill investment commitments, in the context of the deterioriation fo the plant’s economic situation and resulting redundancies; |
Or. en
Amendment 13
Hélder Sousa Silva
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 5 a. Highlights the paramount importance of a competitive and resilient European steel sector as the basis for a strong, high-quality industry and a central pillar of Union's strategic autonomy; |
Or. en
Amendment 14
Matthias Ecke
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 6. Notes that the region of Wallonia endured a process of deindustrialisation and economic transformation7 ; notes that Liberty’s bankruptcy represents a major social shock for Wallonia; | 6. Notes that the region of Wallonia endured a process of deindustrialisation and economic transformation7 ; notes that Liberty’s bankruptcy represents a major social shock for Wallonia; a region whose labour market has already been weakened by other restructuring events; stresses that the steel sector remains an important economic sector for Belgium, with the ratio of steel jobs per inhabitant remaining high; calls on Belgian authorities to provide specific support tailored to these profiles to help workers further develop necessary skills to find new quality-jobs, while taking measures to reduce bankruptcies and address social disparities leading to exclusion of work force; |
| _________________ | _________________ |
| 7 National Bank of Belgium. Economic Review 2024 | 7 National Bank of Belgium. Economic Review 2024 |
Or. en
Amendment 15
Hélder Sousa Silva
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 6. Notes that the region of Wallonia endured a process of deindustrialisation and economic transformation7 ; notes that Liberty’s bankruptcy represents a major social shock for Wallonia; | 6. Notes that the region of Wallonia endured a process of deindustrialisation and economic transformation7; notes that Liberty’s bankruptcy represents a major social shock for Wallonia; stresses the need for policies that foster industrial competitiveness, social cohesion and regional development; |
| _________________ | _________________ |
| 7 National Bank of Belgium. Economic Review 2024 | 7 National Bank of Belgium. Economic Review 2024 |
Or. en
Amendment 16
Alexander Jungbluth
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 6. Notes that the region of Wallonia endured a process of deindustrialisation and economic transformation7 ; notes that Liberty’s bankruptcy represents a major social shock for Wallonia; | 6. Notes that the region of Wallonia endured a process of deindustrialisation; recalls that safeguarding industrial employment remains primarily a responsibility of the Member States; |
| _________________ | |
| 7 National Bank of Belgium. Economic Review 2024 |
Or. en
Amendment 17
Hélder Sousa Silva
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 6 a. Emphasises that the Union needs a business-friendly environment, which leverages economic growth, promotes innovation, supports technological development, strengthens competitiveness, reduces unnecessary regulatory burdens and simplifies bureaucratic procedures; recalls that strong and competitive businesses are essential to sustain high-quality jobs, drive economic growth, promote territorial, economic and social cohesion, and reinforce Europe’s strategic resilience; |
Or. en
Amendment 18
Isabel Benjumea Benjumea
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 8. Recalls that, in agreement with trade unions and regional authorities, personalised services to be provided to the workers consist of the following measures: outplacement and vocational guidance; training, retraining and vocational training, including IT skills; support towards business creations; contribution to business start-up; incentives and other allowances; | 8. Recalls that, in agreement with trade unions and regional authorities, personalised services to be provided to the workers consist of the following measures: outplacement and vocational guidance; training, retraining and vocational training, including IT skills; support towards business creations; contribution to business start-up; incentives and other allowances; highlights the importance of strengthening investment in innovation, skills and industrial modernisation in order to reinforce the competitiveness of European industry and ensure that workers are equipped for the evolving needs of the labour market; |
Or. en
Amendment 19
Alexander Jungbluth
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 8. Recalls that, in agreement with trade unions and regional authorities, personalised services to be provided to the workers consist of the following measures: outplacement and vocational guidance; training, retraining and vocational training, including IT skills; support towards business creations; contribution to business start-up; incentives and other allowances; | 8. Recalls that, in agreement with trade unions and regional authorities, personalised services to be provided to the workers consist of the following measures: outplacement and vocational guidance; training, retraining and vocational training, including IT skills; support towards business creations; contribution to business start-up; incentives and other allowances; stresses that the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of these measures should be evaluated, including the real reintegration rate of beneficiaries into stable employment; |
Or. en
Amendment 20
Hélder Sousa Silva
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 8. Recalls that, in agreement with trade unions and regional authorities, personalised services to be provided to the workers consist of the following measures: outplacement and vocational guidance; training, retraining and vocational training, including IT skills; support towards business creations; contribution to business start-up; incentives and other allowances; | 8. Recalls that, in agreement with trade unions and regional authorities, personalised services to be provided to the workers consist of the following measures: outplacement and vocational guidance; training, retraining and vocational training, including IT skills; support towards business creations; contribution to business start-up; incentives and other allowances, and should be aligned with the labour market needs; |
Or. en
Amendment 21
Matthias Ecke
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 9. Emphasises the importance of fostering high-quality, future-oriented jobs to ensure long-term economic and social resilience; | 9. Emphasises the importance of fostering high-quality, future-oriented jobs to ensure long-term economic and social resilience; 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; highlights that the EGF is an instrument of solidarity and just transition, and that the Union’s primary task must be to prevent such closures in the first place; |
Or. en
Amendment 22
Hélder Sousa Silva
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 9. Emphasises the importance of fostering high-quality, future-oriented jobs to ensure long-term economic and social resilience; | 9. Emphasises the importance of fostering high-quality, future-oriented jobs that strengthen competitiveness, foster digital transformation, and meet labour market demands, to ensure long-term economic and social resilience while safeguarding that the EGF is effectively deployed and contributes to its overall objectives; |
Or. en
Amendment 23
Angéline Furet, Julien Sanchez
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 9. Emphasises the importance of fostering high-quality, future-oriented jobs to ensure long-term economic and social resilience; | 9. Emphasises the importance of fostering high-quality industrial jobs to ensure long-term economic sovereignty and social resilience; |
Or. en
Amendment 24
Isabel Benjumea Benjumea
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 9 a. Underlines the importance of strengthening the Union’s industrial competitiveness and promoting investment in strategic industrial sectors in order to prevent further deindustrialisation and support job creation; |
Or. en
Amendment 25
Nicolae Ștefănuță
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 9 a. Highlights the urgency of transition to renewable energy as the cheapest source of electricity generation to prevent layoffs and protect workers; |
Or. en
Amendment 26
Isabel Benjumea Benjumea
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 11. Calls for thorough final evaluations of the measures implemented, including how funds were used, the reintegration of workers into the labour market, and whether the EGF objectives were achieved; | 11. Calls for thorough final evaluations of the measures implemented, including how funds were used, the reintegration of workers into the labour market, and whether the EGF objectives were achieved; highlights, in this context, the importance of regular monitoring of the measures financed by the EGF in order to assess their effectiveness; |
Or. en
Amendment 27
Hélder Sousa Silva
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 11. Calls for thorough final evaluations of the measures implemented, including how funds were used, the reintegration of workers into the labour market, and whether the EGF objectives were achieved; | 11. Calls for thorough final evaluations of the measures implemented, including clear and transparent information on how the funds were used, on the success of the reintegration of workers into the labour market, and whether the measures achieved the objectives for which the EGF was created; |
Or. en
Amendment 28
Nicolae Ștefănuță
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 11. Calls for thorough final evaluations of the measures implemented, including how funds were used, the reintegration of workers into the labour market, and whether the EGF objectives were achieved; | 11. Calls for thorough final evaluations together with social partners of the measures implemented, including how funds were used, the reintegration of workers into the labour market, and whether the EGF objectives were achieved; |
Or. en
Amendment 29
Hélder Sousa Silva
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 15. Reiterates that assistance from the EGF must not replace actions that are the responsibility of public authorities or companies under national law or collective agreements; recalls that the EGF is a limited, targeted and complementary mechanism; | 15. Reiterates that assistance from the EGF must not replace actions that are the responsibility of public authorities or companies under national law or collective agreements; recalls that the EGF is a limited, targeted and complementary mechanism and cannot replace structural economic policies, which primarily fall within the competences of Member States; |
Or. en
Amendment 30
Angéline Furet
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 15 a. Regrets that the social consequences of industrial decisions can, in practice, ultimately fall on European and national taxpayers; calls on the Commission to reflect on stronger legal mechanisms to reinforce the liability of parent companies regarding the social and economic obligations of their subsidiaries within the European Union; |
Or. en