Commission proposes €2 million from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund to support 507 dismissed Liberty Steel workers in Belgium

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.

The European Commission has proposed to mobilise €2 million from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) to support 507 workers dismissed after the bankruptcy of Liberty Steel Belgium.

Liberty Steel production lines in Belgium came to a halt in December 2021 due to raw material shortages. Despite efforts to restructure the entity, production never resumed, and workers were placed in short-term work schemes. After prolonged inactivity, the Liège Commercial Court declared Liberty Steel bankrupt on 22 April 2025, resulting in 507 workers losing their jobs.

The EGF funding will support affected workers through measures such as career counselling and guidance, training in new professional and horizontal skills, and assistance for those wishing to start their own businesses. Together, these measures will help dismissed workers learn new skills and rejoin the labour market. Their total estimated cost amounts to €2.4 million, of which 85% (€2 million) will be covered by the Commission and 15% (€0.4 million) by the Walloon public employment services.

The Belgian authorities began providing support to workers already in June 2025, shortly after the bankruptcy. The EGF can retroactively cover these costs.

Next steps

The Commission proposal now requires approval by the European Parliament and the Council. It needs a simple majority in the European Parliament and a qualified majority in the Council.

Background

Since 2007, the EGF has granted financial support to 181,167 people in 20 Member States, intervening in 186 cases with €727 million disbursed. These funds complement national active labour market measures.

According to the latest biennial EGF activity report, more than eight in ten (81%) dismissed workers have found a new job within 18 months of receiving EGF support.

The EGF contributes directly to the creation of a more dynamic and competitive European economy by improving the skills and employability of dismissed people and facilitating the general upskilling in European companies, leading towards better quality jobs.

Helping European workers learn and improve their skills for the demands of a quickly evolving job market is a priority for the Commission.  On 25 February 2026, EU Member States and the European Parliament agreed to broaden the EGF so that it can support workers before they are even dismissed. Those at imminent risk of losing their jobs will be able to receive training to maximise their chances to either remain employed in new business lines of the same companies or to access jobs in other companies.

In November 2025, the Commission launched a Skills Guarantee pilot to support workers in transition so they can learn new skills. The flagship initiative under the Union of Skills will reinforce strategic and growing sectors, in line with the future European Competitiveness Fund.

For more information 

Commission proposal for EGF support 507 dismissed Liberty Steel workers

Factsheet on the EGF 

Website of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund  

EGF regulation 2021-2027 

Commission proposes broader, faster EU social and employment funds