REPORT 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[...]

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 - C10-0025/2026 - 2026/0038(BUD))

The European Parliament,

- 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[1]("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")[2]as amended by Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/765[3], 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[4], 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 (A10-0061/2026),

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[5]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, particularly in the retail sector, which is undergoing a profound structural transformation driven by the rise of e-commerce and shifting consumer habits; whereas women represent 67,5 % of the workforce concerned in this case; stresses therefore that the support measures under the EGF should take into account the specific needs and barriers faced by those women in re-entering the labour market;

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 the labour market while offering them skills training to facilitate their access to the labour market;

H. whereas the EGF shall not exceed a maximum annual amount of EUR 30 million (in 2018 prices)[6];

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; stresses the importance of shortening the time between the submission of an application for EGF assistance and the financing decision, while fully safeguarding the rights of the European Parliament as one arm of the budgetary authority;

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; highlights the need for enhancing of business management's capacity to prevent lay-offs by adapting to current geopolitical context and to proactively cope with major restructuring events;

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; emphasizes that reintegrating the laid-off workers is key to a future proof European economy with a strong industrial base;

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; emphasizes that in Flanders the unemployment risk is more than double for people with a low level of education; 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; stresses that social partners should be involved throughout the entire implementation of the EGF measures, including the monitoring phase, to ensure the quality and relevance of the support offered to beneficiaries;

8. Recalls that the EGF is an instrument of solidarity and just transition and while it provides support following job losses, it cannot replace a proactive industrial policy; considers 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; stresses that the Union's primary task must be to prevent such closures in the first place, by creating the conditions to keep industrial production competitive, while at the same time investing in skills for both highly qualified and industrial workers; underlines the need to provide specific support tailored to profiles of workers with low-levels of education, while taking measures to reduce bankruptcies and address social disparities leading to exclusion from the workforce;

9. 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;

10. 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;

11. 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;

12. 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;

13. 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;

14. 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. Approves the decision annexed to this resolution;

16. 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;

17. 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[7], 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[8], 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[9]amended by Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/765[10], 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[11].

(4) The EGF should, therefore, be mobilised in order to provide a financial contribution of EUR 1 916 733in 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 733in 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[12], 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[13] 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.

ANNEX: DECLARATION OF INPUT

The rapporteur declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not include in his report input from interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register[14], or from representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies, to be listed in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

LETTER OF THE COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS (25.2.2026)

Mr Johan Van Overtveldt

Chair

Committee on Budgets

BRUSSELS

Subject: Opinion on Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers following an application from Belgium - EGF/2025/007 BE/Casa (2026/0038(BUD))

Dear Mr Chair,

Under the procedure referred to above, the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs has been asked to submit an opinion to your committee and decided to send the opinion in the form of a letter.

The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs considered the matter at its meeting of 25 February 2026. At that meeting, it decided to submit the opinion set out below to the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible.

Yours sincerely,

Li Andersson

OPINION

A. Whereas, on 28 August 2025, Belgium submitted an application EGF/2025/007 BE/Casa for a financial contribution from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF), following displacements in Casa in Belgium, operating in the economic sectors classified under the NACE Revision 2 division 47 (Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles) and 52 (Warehousing and support activities for transportation), where the redundancies are located in the NUTS 2 region of Province of Antwerp (BE21);

B. Whereas 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 this case from 6 March 2025 to 6 July 2025) in an enterprise in a Member State, including workers displaced in suppliers and downstream producers and / or self-employed persons whose activity has ceased; whereas, following its 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;

C. Whereas the application relates to 416 displaced workers (eligible beneficiaries) whose activity has ceased in the economic sectors indicated above (257 in Casa International NV (retail trade) and 159 in Casa Logistics NV (warehousing));

D. Whereas on 6 February 2026, the Commission adopted a proposal for a decision on the mobilisation of the EGF in favour of Belgium to support the reintegration in the labour market of 416 targeted beneficiaries;

E. Whereas Casa comprises two companies, that is Casa International with 65 retail outlets throughout Belgium, and Casa Logistics responsible for storage and distribution to these outlets; whereas the displacements are the result of the financial difficulties that Casa has been facing for several years, partly because of the strongly increased role of e-commerce; whereas international competition has also intensified, resulting in creditor protection being sought in 2020; whereas Casa was sold to Globitas in 2021 and re-sold to the Swedish company AAS Retail in 2024; whereas Casa then got into financial difficulties again due to an acute shortage of liquidity, resulting in clearance sales in shops in the summer of 2024 and the loss of various jobs in the marketing department at the headquarters in Olen; whereas at the end of October 2024, Casa again applied to the Commercial Court for six months of creditor protection, for the purposes of a possible restart; whereas there were no serious potential purchasers of the company, and Casa International and Casa Logistics were declared bankrupt by the Antwerp Commercial Court on 6 March 2025, resulting in 416 workers losing their jobs;

F. Whereas, in Belgium, bankruptcies are on the rise since 2022; whereas in 2024, more than 11 000 enterprises were declared bankrupt (6 323 in Flanders), the highest number since 2013; whereas this uptrend has continued, where between January and September 2025, 8 493 enterprises went bankrupt of which 4 964 or 58% in Flanders; whereas, as a result of bankruptcies, 32 566 jobs were lost in Belgium in 2024 and 15 351 in the first half of 2025, of which the job losses in Flanders represent 59% and 51% respectively; whereas about 18% of the job losses happened in the industry; whereas, furthermore, recent restructuring events such as the displacements at Van Hool, Sappi and Purmo, BelGaN, Tupperware and Audi, for which Belgium applied for EGF support, are affecting the Flemish labour market: job openings in the industry have declined;

G. Whereas Casa's 63 shops are spread across Flanders and Brussels, but both the headquarters and the distribution centre are located in Olen (Province of Antwerp); whereas about half of the affected employees are around Belgium and the other half concentrated in the distribution centre and head office; whereas as a result of this concentration, employment in the Olen region has been hit particularly hard; whereas in the Neteland region, of which Olen is part, the number of job vacancies reported to the public employment services has fallen by 11% over the period June 2024 to May 2025 compared with the previous 12 months, and the number of jobseekers has increased by 7% in August 2025 compared with April 2024;

H. Whereas the workers who have lost their jobs are mainly sales assistants and warehouse staff; whereas despite the number of vacancies for direct employment in the retail sector (including wholesale) falling in Flanders in recent years, there is still shortage of labour in retail; whereas, therefore, most affected sales assistants have a good chance of finding work; whereas, however, finding a new job will be more challenging for the many warehouse staff affected in the distribution centre; whereas there are many jobseekers looking for this type of work, as many of the jobseekers do not have the right skills or qualifications (e.g. lift truck, reach truck) and will need either upskilling and/or to work in another region or switching to a different occupation;

I. Whereas 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 the EGF Regulation;

J. Whereas 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) No 2020/2093 of 17 December 2020 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027;

Therefore, the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs calls on the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible, to integrate the following suggestions in its motion for a resolution:

1. Recalls that the objective of the EGF is to demonstrate solidarity with, and provide support to beneficiaries; considers that 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 within or outside their initial sector of activity; stresses the importance of preparing and supporting workers for the urgently needed green and digital transitions of the European economy and society; reiterates in this context the important role the Union plays, including through the EGF, in contributing to the financing of necessary qualifications for the just transition in line with the European Green Deal;

2. Agrees with the Commission that the conditions set out in Article 4(2), point (a), of the EGF Regulation 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;

3. Notes the fact that Belgium has provided all necessary assurances that the requirements laid down in national and EU legislation concerning collective redundancies have been complied with and that the principles of equality of treatment and non-discrimination will be respected in access to the proposed measures and their implementation;

4. Recalls the profile of the redundant workers, where more than two thirds of the dismissed workers are women and about a third of the dismissed workers are over 50 years old, and considers that, along with the pressures of the labour market, the workers will need additional tailored support, particularly targeted assistance focusing on upskilling and retraining, to help them succeed the transition to employment;

5. Stresses that Belgium has confirmed that the measures supported by the EGF will not receive any financial contributions from other Union financial instruments;

6. Notes the personalised coordinated package to be provided to displaced workers consists of the following measures: (a) taskforce (information sessions to be organised by experts with in-depth knowledge of the local labour market), (b) Outplacement (outplacement services provided in group or individual sessions, an initial interview and individual guidance, certification of acquired skills, guidance on using digital platform for job searching, etc.;), (c) active mediation, (d) guidance, (e) training and retraining, (f) training at the workplace, and (g) job fair; given the age and educational profile of the targeted beneficiaries stresses the specific needs of these groups should be taken into account when providing personalised services;

7. Stresses in particular the importance of Article 7.2 of the EGF Regulation, which requires the coordinated package to anticipate future labour market perspectives and required skills, which are compatible with the shift towards a resource-efficient and sustainable economy and with a particular focus on the dissemination of skills required in the digital industrial age; welcomes the fact that the package's ICT training and additional support foreseen within the outplacement services provide support to both digitally illiterate and to those who have some digital skills, supported by digital skills assessment and provisions for workers to borrow a laptop, receive training on how to use it and get answers to their digital questions;

8. Recalls the possibility for special time-limited measures within the coordinated package including, inter alia, to pay childcare allowances, as provided in Article 7.2 b of the EGF regulation to facilitate job seekers' participation in the activities proposed.

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY THE COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

Key to symbols:

+ : in favour

- : against

0 : abstention