On the 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/2025/007 BE/Casa

PR_BUD_Funds

MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

on the 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/2025/007 BE/Casa

(COM(2026)0003 – C100025/2026 – 2026/0038(BUD))

– having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2026)0003 – C10-0025/2026),

– 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 ("EGF Regulation"),

– having regard to Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 of 17 December 2020 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021-2027 (“MFF Regulation”) as amended by Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/765 , and in particular Article 8 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, and in particular point 9 thereof,

– having regard to the European Pillar of Social Rights,

– having regard to the letter from the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A10-0006/2026),

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;

B. whereas Belgium submitted application EGF/2025/007 BE/Casa for a financial contribution from the EGF following 416 displacements in Casa International NV (Casa) in Belgium, in the economic sectors classified under the NACE Revision 2 division 47 (Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles) and Division 52 (Warehousing and support activities for transportation) in the region of Province of Antwerp (BE21), Flanders, within a reference period from 6 March 2025 to 6 July 2025;

C. whereas the application is based on the intervention criteria of Article 4(2), point (a), of the EGF Regulation; whereas 257 displacements relate to Casa International NV (retail trade), with 65 retail outlets throughout Belgium, and 159 displacements relate to Casa Logistics NV (warehousing), responsible for storage and distribution to these outlets;

D. whereas Casa filed for bankruptcy on 6 March 2025; whereas in Belgium bankruptcies are on the rise since 2022;

E. whereas VDAB is providing the national pre-financing and co-funding of the measures;

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

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;

H. whereas the EGF shall not exceed a maximum annual amount of EUR 30 million (in 2018 prices);

1. Agrees with the Commission that the conditions set out in the EGF Regulation and in particular in Article 4(2), point (a), thereof are met and that Belgium is entitled to a financial contribution of EUR 1 916 733 under that Regulation, which represents 85 % of the total cost of EUR 2 254 980, comprising expenditure for personalised services of EUR 2 168 980 and expenditure for preparatory, management, information and publicity, control and reporting activities of EUR 86 000;

2. Notes that the Belgian authorities submitted the application on 23 September 2025, and that, following the receipt of additional information from Belgium, the Commission finalised its assessment on 6 February 2026 and notified it to Parliament on 11 February 2026;

3. Notes that the application relates to workers whose activity ceased in two enterprises of Casa and that they will all be targeted beneficiaries;

4. Takes note that Casa experienced financial difficulties for several years prior to the bankruptcy declaration, stemming from the growing prevalence of e-commerce, heightened international competition and unfair competitive conditions, which ultimately resulted in severe liquidity shortages and the inability to identify potential purchasers for the company;

5. Notes that, while displaced sales assistants have most favourable employment prospects, warehouse workers face greater difficulties in securing new positions and require additional support through upskilling, reskilling, relocation, or redeployment; calls on Belgian authorities to provide specific tailored support to help workers overcome their shortcomings and find new jobs aligned with labour market needs;

6. Regrets that the rise in bankruptcies over the past two years had a negative impact on the employment rate in some regions in Belgium, particularly in Brussels and Olen (Province of Antwerp); notes that around 45 000 jobs were lost in Belgium within 18 months due to bankruptcies, mostly occurred in Flanders; stresses the importance of a business-friendly environment that enables enterprises to remain competitive, creates jobs and contributes to sustainable economic growth.

7. Recalls that, in agreement with experts and social partners, personalised services to be provided to the workers consist of the following measures: info-sessions for guidance on work reintegration; outplacement services to guide workers in their job searching; active mediation focusing on each jobseeker’s profile; personalised programmes for skills development, including IT skills; training and retraining; individual training at the workplace; participation at job fair; emphasises the importance of fostering high-quality, future-oriented jobs that strengthen competitiveness and support digital transformation, while ensuring that the EGF is properly implemented and contributes to the Union’s long-term economic and social resilience;

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;

9. Calls for thorough final evaluations of the measures implemented, including clear information on how the funds have been used, on the success of the reintegrating of workers into the labour market, and whether the measures have achieved the objectives for which the EGF was created;

10. Notes that Belgium started providing personalised services to the targeted beneficiaries on 14 March 2025 and that the period of eligibility for a financial contribution from the EGF will therefore be from that date until 24 months after the date of the entry into force of the financing decision;

11. Notes that Belgium started incurring administrative expenditure to implement the EGF on 6 March 2025 and that such expenditure shall therefore be eligible for a financial contribution from the EGF from that date until 31 months after the date of the entry into force of the financing decision;

12. Notes that the Belgian authorities provided assurance that the principles of equality of treatment and non-discrimination will be respected in the access to the proposed actions and their implementation, and that any double financing will be prevented;

13. 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.

14. Approves the decision annexed to this resolution;

15. Instructs its President to sign the decision with the President of the Council and arrange for its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union;

16. Instructs its President to forward this resolution, including its annex, to the Council and the Commission.

ANNEX: 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/2025/007 BE/Casa

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, 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, 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 amended by Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/765, and Article 16 of Regulation (EU) 2021/691.

(3) On 23 September 2025, Belgium submitted an application to mobilise the EGF in accordance with Article 8(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/691, in respect of workers’ displacements in Casa 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.

(4) The EGF should, therefore, be mobilised in order to provide a financial contribution of EUR 1 916 733 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 2026, the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers shall be mobilised to provide the amount of EUR 1 916 733 in commitment and payment appropriations.

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 For the Council

The President The President

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

I. Background

The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) was created to provide additional assistance to workers suffering from the consequences of major structural changes in world trade patterns.

In accordance with point 9 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 16 December 2020, the Commission is required, following the positive assessment of an application, to submit a proposal to mobilise the Fund to the budgetary authority and to complement it with a corresponding request for transfer to the relevant budget lines.

II. Belgium’s application and the Commission's proposal

On 23 September 2025 Belgium submitted an application EGF/2025/007 BE/Casa for a financial contribution from the EGF, following 416 redundancies at Casa International NV. This is the seventh such application of 2025, and the fourth to be examined under the 2026 budget.

Following the assessment of this application, the Commission has concluded, in accordance with all applicable provisions of the EGF Regulation, that the conditions for awarding a financial contribution from the EGF are met.

On 6 February 2026, the Commission adopted a proposal for a decision on the mobilisation of the EGF in favour of Belgium for tailored measures to support the reintegration in the labour market of 416 targeted beneficiaries, i.e. workers from Casa (retail stores and warehouse) made redundant. In total, EUR 1 916 733 will be mobilised from the EGF for Casa, representing 85% of the total costs of the proposed actions.

The Commission deemed the Belgian application admissible under the intervention criteria of Article 4(2) (a) of the EGF Regulation, which requires the cessation of activity of at least 200 displaced workers or self-employed persons over a reference period of four months, in an enterprise in a Member State, including workers displaced in suppliers and downstream.

EGF co-funding has been requested for the following six types of actions, to be provided to redundant workers:

a) Taskforce: A taskforce composed of experts with experience in providing guidance on collective redundancy processes and in-depth knowledge of the local labour market, will organise and run the information sessions, define personalised paths together with the workers for reintegration into employment and re-adjust them, if need be.

b) Outplacement: Outplacement services include both collective and individual activities, such as an initial interview and individual guidance, certification of acquired skills, guidance on using the VDAB's (Public Employment Services in Flanders) "My Career" (Mijn Loopbaan) digital platform for job searching, as well as guidance before, during, and after the job fair. Support is also provided in ”Job-Up” sessions, where workers can walk in to receive help with questions on their job application. Outplacement services started in early April.

c) Active mediation: The VDAB mediators estimate the jobseekers’ potential, guide them, try to match them with suitable employers, and refer them to upskilling measures, if necessary. Support is also given on preparing the workers for future job applications, writing attractive CVs and acquiring skills needed for performing confidently in a job interview.

d) Guidance: VDAB can refer a job seeker to a partner organisation when this is deemed useful based on the person’s needs, profile and stage in their career path. Each organisation offers a personalised programme, which includes guidance, search for job openings, assessment and strengthening of digital skills, help in using digital tools for job search, and mental support. These services are provided through a voucher scheme to ensure freedom of choice for the workers.

e) Training and retraining: Workers have access to a wide range of training, provided by VDAB or by external training providers. They can choose either to further develop their skills in their own field, or to fully retrain in occupations with labour shortage. Prior to the training programme, a VDAB mediator carries out individual screening to tailor the learning pathway to each participant’s motivation, skills and personal growth opportunities. The level of digital skills training is adapted to the jobseeker’s job target. Specific emphasis is placed on strengthening participants’ technical and digital skills via hybrid learning methodologies – a mix of classroom, digital and experience-based learning. Successful participants will receive an official certificate or diploma.

f) Training at the workplace: Workers receive individual on-the-job training at the enterprise that is required to recruit them after the training. The employment contract is either permanent or fixed term for at least the same duration as the training.

g) Job fair: This recruitment event brings together jobseekers and employers. Before attending the event, participants are offered mentoring to prepare meeting with potential employers. The event also contributes to getting to know the companies, building confidence to engage in conversations and encouraging to follow training based on information provided by the employers. A job fair was organised on 17 June 2025 in Westerlo.

III. Procedure

In order to mobilise the Fund, the Commission has submitted to the Budgetary Authority a request to transfer a global amount of EUR 1 916 733 from the EGF reserve (budget line 30 04 02; commitment appropriations) to the EGF (budget line 16 02 02; commitment appropriations).

According to an internal agreement within the Parliament, the Employment and Social Affairs Committee and the Committee on Regional Development should be associated to the process, in order to provide constructive support and contribute to the assessment of the applications from the Fund.