EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels, 9.1.2026

COM(2026) 2 final

2026/0001(BUD)

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/2025/006 BE/ Audi

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL

1.The rules applicable to financial contributions from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) are laid down in 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 .

2.On 18 September 2025, Belgium submitted an application EGF/2025/006 BE/Audi for a financial contribution from the EGF, following displacements in Audi (Audi Brussels S.A.:n.V.) and its suppliers and dowstream producers in Belgium.

3.Following its assessment of this application, the Commission has concluded, in accordance with all applicable provisions of Regulation (EU) 2021/691, that the conditions for awarding a financial contribution from the EGF are met.

SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION

ASSESSMENT OF THE APPLICATION

Procedure

4.Belgium submitted application EGF/2025/006 BE/Audi within 12 weeks of the date on which the intervention criteria set out in Article 4 (2), point (a), of Regulation (EU) 2021/691 were met, on 18 September 2025. The Commission acknowledged receipt of the application the same date and requested additional information from Belgium on 2 October 2025. Such additional information was provided within 15 working days of the request. The deadline of 50 working days of the receipt of the complete application within which the Commission should finalise its assessment of the application's compliance with the conditions for providing a financial contribution expires on 13 January 2026.

Eligibility of the application

Enterprises and beneficiaries concerned

5.The application relates to 3 148 displaced workers whose activity has ceased in Audi (Audi Brussels S.A.:n.V.) and five suppliers and dowstream producers. The primary enterprise operated in the economic sector classified under the NACE Revision 2 division 29 (Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers). The redundancies made by the primary enterprise are mainly located in the NUTS 2 regions of Région de Bruxelles-Capitale/Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest (BE10), Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen (BE23), and Province Hainaut (BE32).

Intervention criteria

6.Belgium submitted the application under the intervention criteria of Article 4(2), point (a), of Regulation (EU) 2021/691, which requires the cessation of activity of at least 200 displaced workers over a reference period of four months in an enterprise in a Member State, including workers displaced in suppliers and downstream producers.

7.The reference period of four months for the application runs from 28 February 2025 to 28 June 2025.

8.The cessation of activity during the reference period occurred as follows:

–2 580 displaced workers in Audi, and

–568 displaced workers in the five suppliers and dowstream producers of Audi.

Calculation of displacements and of cessation of activity

9.Pursuant to Article 6, first paragraph, point (a), in conjunction with Article 5, first paragraph of Regulation (EU) 2021/691, the cessation of activities of all the displaced workers during the reference period has been calculated as from the date of the de facto termination of the contract of employment or its expiry. 

Eligible beneficiaries

10.In addition to the workers already referred to, the eligible beneficiaries include 266 displaced workers whose activity ceased before or after the reference period of four months. All these workers ceased their activity within the six months before the start of the reference period on 28 February 2025 and/or between the end of the reference period and the day before the adoption of this proposal, pursuant to Article 6, first paragraph, point (b), of Regulation (EU) 2021/691, as required by Article 6, second paragraph, of Regulation (EU) 2021/691. A clear causal link can be established with the event that triggered the cessations of activity of the displaced workers during the reference period as required by Article 6, second paragraph, of Regulation (EU) 2021/691..

11.The total number of eligible beneficiaries is 3 414.

Description of the events that led to the displacements and cessation of activity

12.According to Belgian authorities, the global market for the production and sale of cars, particularly electric cars, is facing numerous challenges and economic pressures, such as rising global raw material costs, aggressive global competition, and reduced growth forecasts and declining overall demand for electric cars in Europe.

13.Following low sales of the Q8 e-tron, the only model produced at Audi's plant in Brussels (Audi BXL), the end of its production, initially planned for 2027, was brought forward to 2025. Furthermore, due to the shift in demand for larger vehicles towards regions outside Europe, the successor to the Q8 e-tron would not be produced at Audi BXL, but closer to markets with higher demand.

14.The production costs per vehicle at Audi BXL plant were higher than at other Audi plants. Structural factors, such as its location in the Brussels metropolitan area, between a residential zone and a railway line, made it difficult to optimise and adapt the facilities, resulting in higher costs. The absence of press lines 7  and the lack of a nearby supplier network also contributed to the higher costs, especially in terms of logistics. Therefore, no other model was planned to be produced at the Audi BXL plant to replace the Q8 e-tron, whose production was discontinued. This led to the cessation of operations and the closure of the plant, resulting in these displacements.

Expected impact of the displacements as regards the local, regional or national economy and employment

15.Job creation in Belgium slowed in 2024. Only 13 400 jobs were created, a third of the jobs created in 2023 8 . Furthermore, bankruptcies are on the rise since 2022. In 2024, more than 11 000 enterprises were declared bankrupt, the highest figure since 2013 9 . This upward trend has continued, 8 483 enterprises went bankrupt between January and September 2025 10 .

16.In terms of employment, the number of workers affected by collective redundancies in 2024 increased by 68% year-on-year 11 . The number of jobs lost due to bankruptcies reached 32 566 in 2024 (+18% year-on-year) 12 , and 22 500 in 2025 (January to September) 13 . About 14% of these job losses happened in the industrial sector 14 .

17.The unemployment rate in Belgium is 5,9% 15 , the same as the EU average 16 . However, there are significant differences between regional labour markets. The unemployment rate in Brussels is 11,9%, 6 percentage points (pp) higher than the national rate. In Wallonia, it is also higher (+2 pp), while in Flanders it is 2 pp lower 17 .

18.Belgium, citing figures from Statbel 18 , explains that the level of education significantly influences the employment rate, with differences of around 20 pp between the various groups. The employment rate for people with low levels of education is 47,9%; for those with medium and high levels the rate is 67,6% and 86,5% respectively. Gender also plays a role: men's unemployment is 1,6 pp higher than women's (5%) 19 . More than 90% of the displaced workers are men.

19.Although the displacements in Audi concern all of Belgium, 71% of the redundant workers are concentrated in three territories: Hainaut (36%), Brussels (18%), and East Flanders (17%).

20.Hainaut (Wallonia) and Brussels are disadvantaged labour markets where long-term unemployment is prevalent (67% 20 and 62% 21 of the jobseekers, respectively, have been unemployed for more than 12 months). Hainaut accounts for 41% of Walloon jobseekers. Almost half of these jobseekers have low a level of education. 22 . As regards their age, the group of 30-39 year old accounts for the largest number of jobseekers (24%), followed by the over 50 year old group (22%) 23 . In Brussels, one in four jobseekers is over 50 years old, and those with a low level of education (including those whose qualifications are not equivalent in Europe) account for 59% of the jobseekers 24 . Technically qualified workers are re-entering the labour market relatively quickly in East Flanders. However, older workers have far fewer opportunities to find new jobs. One in two former Audi workers residing in East Flanders is over 50 years old.

21.Therefore, according to Belgian authorities, the impact of the displacements in Audi and its suppliers and downstream producers is expected to further aggravate the situation in these labour markets. 

Application of the EU Quality Framework for anticipation of change and restructuring (QFR)

22.Belgium has described how the recommendations set out in the EU Quality Framework for anticipation of change and restructuring have been considered.

23.The dismissing enterprises complied with Belgian law on collective redundancies, which establishes a mandatory procedure for informing and consulting workers' representatives. The procedure makes it possible to explore any possibility of avoiding or reducing the number of redundancies. It also seeks to mitigate the consequences of job loss through complementary social measures, such as support for redeployment or retraining of redundant workers. 

24.Belgium reported that national labour law 25  on the active management of restructuring requires enterprises undergoing restructuring to provide workers laid off in the context of collective redundancies with 30 hours of outplacement services in a period of three months (60 hours in six months for workers aged 45+). The negotiations secured a specific budget of EUR 1 500 000 to cover for retraining costs.

25.Regarding the activities undertaken to assist the displaced workers, Belgium has reported that the EGF measures like vocational counselling and guidance that build upon the outplacement services already mentioned, started after the outplacement ended. A job-search event ('job day') focusing on technical profiles available in 77 enterprises was held on 3 April 2025.

Complementarity with actions funded by national or Union funds

26.Belgium has confirmed that the measures described below receiving a financial contribution from the EGF will not also receive financial contributions from other Union financial instruments.

27.The coordinated package of personalised services complements actions funded by other national or EU funds.

Procedures for consulting the targeted beneficiaries or their representatives or the social partners as well as local and regional authorities

28.Belgium has indicated that the co-ordinated package of personalised services has been drawn up in consultation with the social partners, in compliance with Article 7(4) of Regulation (EU) 2021/691. Between November 2024 and March 2025, the public employment services of Brussels 26 , Flanders 27 and Wallonia 28 met the trade unions 29  several times 30 to discuss suitable measures to support the former Audi workers in their transition to new jobs. Audi workers were also consulted on 20 February 2025.

Targeted beneficiaries and proposed measures

Targeted beneficiaries

29.The estimated number of displaced workers expected to participate in the measures is 3 414. Pursuant to Article 8(7), point (f), of Regulation (EU) 2021/691, the provided breakdown of these workers by gender, age group and educational level is as follows:

Proposed measures

30.Pursuant to Article 8(7), point (h) of Regulation (EU) 2021/691, the personalised coordinated package to be provided to displaced workers consists of the following measures:

–    Information services, vocational counselling and guidance, and placement services: This measure builds on the outplacement services referred to in paragraph 24 and includes information sessions, profiling of the workers, individual coaching and support to job-search in the form of active job-search and job-matching, workshops on preparing job applications, and looking for jobs using social networks. Information sessions on other relevant topics such as taxation or how to avoid running into over-indebtedness will also be provided. Special attention is paid to the psychological impact of dismissal.

–Training and retraining: After the workers profiling and agreement of individual projects with the vocational counsellors, specific training will be offered to cater for the identified needs.

–Job day: This job-search event brings together jobseekers and employers that seek to fill their vacancies. Before attending the event, counselling sessions help to prepare the meeting with potential employers.

–Promotion of enterpreneurship: The measure aims at workers who wish to launch their own business. It will include a diagnosis and guidance phase, awareness-raising actions on entrepreneurship, information sessions on the potential for business creation through territorial economic diagnoses and networking with relevant entrepreneurs and with certified coaches in business creation.

–Contribution to business start-up: The workers who start a business or a self-employed activity will receive a contribution up to EUR 15 000. The contribution will be paid in two instalments, after proving the start and development of the business activity with supporting documents.

–Incentives and allowances: (1) Job-search allowances. Workers will receive EUR 2 per hour of effective participation in certain job-search activities entitled to the allowance. (2) Bonus for improving IT skills. Workers who follow both the module for access to and the one to strengthen digital autonomy will receive a lump sum of EUR 700 conditional on their active participation and completion of the training. The bonus aims to reduce digital illiteracy by encouraging workers to improve their IT skills. (3) Return-to-school allowance. A monthly allowance of EUR 350 will be granted to workers who embark on full-time secondary or tertiary studies, or qualifying training related to acquire the necessary skills for jobs that are in demand and for which recruiting is difficult or linked to critical functions 35 . (4) Allowance towards business creation. To support workers during setting up business, a monthly allowance of EUR 350 will be granted for a maximum of 12 months or up to 18 months under certain conditions.

31.The ICT training and additional support foreseen within vocational guidance services and some of the trainings on offer and related allowances cater for the dissemination of the skills required in the digital industrial age and in a resource-efficient economy, as required by Article 7(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/691.

32.The proposed actions, here described, constitute active labour market policy measures within the eligible actions set out in Article 7 of Regulation (EU) 2021/691. These actions do not substitute passive social protection measures.

33.Belgium has provided the required information on measures that are mandatory for the enterprise concerned by virtue of national law or pursuant to collective agreements. In accordance with Article 9(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/691, Belgium has confirmed that a financial contribution from the EGF will not replace such measures.

Estimated budget

34.The estimated total costs are EUR 8 856 030, comprising expenditure for personalised services of EUR 8 738 968 and expenditure for preparatory, management, information and publicity, control and reporting activities of EUR 117 062.

35.The total financial contribution requested from the EGF is EUR 7 527 625 (85 % of total costs).

36.Pursuant to Article 8(7), point (m), of Regulation (EU) 2021/691, Belgium has specified that the national pre-financing and co-funding is provided by Actiris, Le Forem, and Vlaamse Dienst voor Arbeidsbemiddeling en Beroepsopleiding.

37.The costs of the measures identified in the table above as measures under Article 7(2), second subparagraph, point (b), of Regulation (EU) 2021/691 do not exceed 35 % of the total costs for the coordinated package of personalised services. Belgium confirmed that these measures are conditional on the active participation of the targeted beneficiaries in job-search or training activities.

38.In accordance with Article 7(2), fourth subparagraph, of Regulation (EU) 2021/691, Belgium confirmed that the costs of investments for self-employment, business start-ups and employee take-overs will not exceed EUR 22 000 per beneficiary.

Period of eligibility of expenditure

39.Belgium started providing the personalised services to the targeted beneficiaries on 17 February 2025. The expenditure on the measures will therefore be eligible for a financial contribution from the EGF from 17 February 2025 until 24 months after the date of the entry into force of the Financing Decision.

40.Belgium started incurring the administrative expenditure to implement the EGF on 9 July 2024. The expenditure for preparatory, management, information and publicity, control and reporting activities shall therefore be eligible for a financial contribution from the EGF from 9 July 2024 until 31 months after the date of the entry into force of the Financing Decision.

Management and control systems

41.The application contains a description of the management and control system required under Article 23 of Regulation (EU) 2021/691, which specifies the responsibilities of the bodies involved. Belgium has notified the Commission that the financial contribution in Brussels and Wallonia will be managed by the same bodies that manage and control the ESF+. In Flanders it will be managed by VDAB. The payments will be made by VDAB’s financial service. The Department of Finance and Budget - Audit Unit of the Flemish Audit Authority for the European Structural Funds is the audit authority for the EGF in Flanders.

Commitments provided by the Member State concerned

42.Belgium has provided all necessary assurances regarding the following:

–the principles of equality of treatment and non-discrimination will be respected in access to the proposed measures and their implementation,

–the requirements laid down in national and EU legislation concerning collective redundancies have been complied with,

–Audi has complied with its legal obligations and provided for its workers accordingly,

–any double financing will be prevented,

–the financial contribution from the EGF will comply with the procedural and material Union rules on State aid.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATION

Budgetary proposal

43.The EGF shall not 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 of 17 December 2020 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027 38 amended by Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/765 of 29 February 2024 39 .

44.Having examined the application in respect of the conditions set out in Article 13(1) and (2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/691, and having taken into account the number of targeted beneficiaries, the proposed measures and the estimated costs, the Commission proposes to mobilise the EGF for the amount of EUR 7 527 625, representing 85 % of the total costs of the proposed measures, in order to provide a financial contribution for the application.

45.The proposed decision to mobilise the EGF will be taken jointly by the European Parliament and the Council pursuant to Article 15(1), first subparagraph, second sentence, of Regulation (EU) 2021/691 and, as laid down in point 9 of 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 40 .

Related acts

46.At the same time as it presents this proposal for a decision to mobilise the EGF, the Commission will present to the European Parliament and to the Council a proposal to transfer to the relevant budgetary line the amount of EUR 7 527 625.

47.At the same time as it adopted this proposal for a decision to mobilise the EGF, the Commission adopted a decision on a financial contribution that constitutes a financing decision within the meaning of Article 110 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 41 . That financing decision will enter into force on the date on which the Commission is notified of the approval of the budgetary transfer by the European Parliament and the Council pursuant to Article 15(2), first subparagraph, of Regulation (EU) 2021/691.

2026/0001 (BUD)

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/2025/006 BE/ Audi

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 42 , 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 43 , 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 44 amended by Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/765 45 , and Article 16 of Regulation (EU) 2021/691.

(3)On 18 September 2025, 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 Audi Brussels S.A.:n.V. and five of its suppliers and dowstream producers 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 46 .

(4)The EGF should, therefore, be mobilised to provide a financial contribution of EUR 7 527 625 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 7 527 625 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] 47*.

Done at Brussels,

(1)    OJ L 153, 3.5.2021, p. 48.

(2)    Commission Delegated Regulation 2019/1755 of 8 August 2019 amending the Annexes to Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS). OJ L 270, 24.10.2019, p. 1–56.

(3)    Regions most affected, as redundancies are spread over the whole of Belgium.

(4)    OJ L 393, 30.12.2006, p. 1.

(5)    The sector of economic activity of two Audi’s suppliers and downstream producers (Imperial logistics and Rhenus automotive) is Division 52 (Warehousing, storage and support activities for transportation).

(6)    In accordance with Article 7(5) of Regulation (EU) 2021/691.

(7)    A press line is a set of stamping and forming machines designed to mass produce metal parts such as chassis and car body panels.

(8)    National Bank of Belgium Economic Review 2024, p.18.

(9)     Statbel (bankruptcies in 2024) .

(10)     Statbel (monthly bankruptcies) .

(11)    Le Forem, Tendances et conjoncture, février 2025, p. 10

(12)     Statbel (bankruptcies in 2024) .

(13)    Statbel ( Bankruptcies and job losses in Belgium by month ).

(14)    Statbel ( Bankruptcies and job losses by economic activity in Belgium by month ).

(15)    Statbel ( Employment and unemployment ).

(16)    Eurostat, Euro indicators .

(17)    Statbel ( Employment and unemployment ).

(18)    Statbel ( Employment and unemployment ).

(19)    Statbel ( Employment and unemployment ).

(20)    Le Forem. Photo locale de la demande d’emploi. Janvier 2025.

(21)     Région de Bruxelles-Capitale. Demande d’emploi - Septembre 2025.

(22)    Medium secondary school or less.

(23)    Le Forem. Photo locale de la demande d’emploi. Janvier 2025.

(24)     Région de Bruxelles-Capitale. Demande d’emploi - Septembre 2025.

(25)    The Royal Decree of 10 November 2006 amending the Royal Decree of 9 March 2006.    

(26)    Actiris.

(27)    Vlaamse Dienst voor Arbeidsbemiddeling en Beroepsopleiding (VDAB).

(28)    Le Forem

(29)    Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (ACV-CSC), General Labour Federation of Belgium (ABVV-FGTB), General Confederation of Liberal Trade Unions of Belgium (ACLVB-CGSLB).

(30)    On 4 November and 11 December 2024, 29 January and 10 March 2025 (non-exhaustive list).

(31)    ISCED 0-2

(32)    ISCED 3

(33)    ISCED 4

(34)    ISCED 5-8

(35)     List of jobs in demand and difficult to be covered or linked to critical functions. « Métiers en tension de recrutement en Wallonie. Liste des métiers/fonctions critiques et en pénurie ». Le Forem 2025 .    

(36)    To avoid decimals, the estimated costs per worker have been rounded. However, the rounding has no impact on the total cost of each measure, which remains as in the application submitted by Belgium.

(37)    Totals do not tally due to rounding.

(38)    OJ L 433 I, 22.12.2020, p. 11.

(39)    OJ L, 2024/765, 29.2.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/765/oj. 

(40)    OJ L 433 I, 22.12.2020, p. 28.

(41)    Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 September 2024 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union (recast), OJ L, 2024/2509, 26.9.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2509/oj..

(42)    OJ L 153, 3.5.2021, p. 48.

(43)    OJ L 433 I, 22.12.2020, p. 28

(44)    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).

(45)    OJ L, 2024/765, 29.2.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/765/oj.

(46)    COM(2026) 2

(47) *    Date to be inserted by the Parliament before the publication in OJ.