Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: application EGF/2025/006 BE/Audi – Belgium
The European Parliament adopted by 593 votes to 55, with 9 abstentions, a resolution on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Belgium in relation to displaced workers in the automobile sector.
Parliament approved the decision annexed to the resolution to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) an amount of EUR 7 527 625 in commitment and payment appropriations to assist Belgium following redundancies in Audi (Audi Brussels S.A.:n.V.) and five suppliers and dowstream producers.
Parliament agreed with the Commission that the conditions set out in the EGF are met and that Belgium is entitled to a financial contribution of EUR 7 527 625, which represents 85% of the total cost of 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.
Events leading to the displacements
Following low sales of the Q8 e-tron, the only model produced at Audi's plant in Brussels, the end of its production, initially planned for 2027, was brought forward to 2025. The production costs per vehicle at Audi BXL plant were higher than at other Audi plants. No other model was planned to be produced at the Audi Brussels plant to replace the Q8 e-tron, whose production was discontinued. This led to the cessation of operations and the closure of the plant on 28 February 2025, resulting in these displacements.
Parliament stressed that the increment in bankruptcies over the past two years has considerably increased the unemployment rate in some regions in Belgium, particularly in Brussels and Hainaut (Wallonia). It regretted that the displacements will further aggravate the situation and called on Belgian authorities to take measures to reduce bankruptcies to prevent structural and regional decline, while addressing social disparities leading to exclusion of work force, such as gender inequalities and low level of education.
Members also regretted that Audi ceased activities in Belgium despite remaining profitable, and that production will be moved to China and Mexico. The stressed the importance of finding a sustainable solution for repurposing the closed factory to create high-quality jobs in the region.
Personalised package of services
Parliament noted that Belgium started providing personalised services to the targeted beneficiaries on 17 February 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.
This package includes: (a) counselling and information services; (b) training including IT training; (c) job-search event; (d) promotion of entrepreneurship; (e) contribution to business start-up; (f) incentives and allowances.
Lastly, Parliament called for thorough final evaluations of the measures implemented, including clear information on how the funds have been used and whether they have actually achieved the objectives for which the EGF was created, including data and timelines on the number of workers successfully reintegrated into employment and the jobs they have accessed, as well as on those who have completed training and upskilling measures as well as the relevant timelines.