EU funds to support 416 dismissed workers in Belgium

The Budgets Committee backed the release of EU support money for workers who were laid off after home decoration chain Casa went bankrupt.

On Tuesday, MEPs backed the Commission’s proposal to mobilise €1.9 million from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) to support 416 workers laid off after the Casa, a home decor retail chain, went bankrupt. The draft report was adopted with 29 votes in favour, one against and one abstention. Plenary is expected to vote on the mobilisation of funds on 26 March.

After experiencing several years of financial difficulties, home decoration retail chain Casa International was declared bankrupt in Belgium in March 2025, resulting in the loss of 416 jobs. Support from the EGF will help the affected workers acquire new skills and return to employment as quickly as possible. The programme will finance a range of measures, including job-search events, career counselling and guidance, and targeted skills training.

The total estimated cost of the support measures is €2.3 million. Of this amount, 85% (€1.9 million) will be financed by the EU, while the remaining 15% (€338,247) will be provided by the Flemish Public Employment Service. Belgian authorities began supporting the workers in March 2025, shortly after the bankruptcy declaration, and the EGF can retroactively cover these costs.

Background

Under the EGF Regulation 2021-2027, the fund supports displaced workers and self-employed people who have lost their jobs due to unexpected major restructuring events. Member states can apply for EU funding when at least 200 workers are made redundant within a defined reference period. If the application meets the EGF criteria, the Commission proposes mobilising funds, which must be approved by the European Parliament and the Council. According to the Commission, the EGF has helped more than 181,000 people in 20 member states, supporting 186 cases with €727 million disbursed.