Commission proposes €6.5 million to support over 1 900 dismissed workers in Belgium and Spain

Support for former Cora workers in Belgium

In Belgium, 1 257 people lost their jobs after the Cora hypermarket chain stopped operating in December 2025, following several years of financial problems.

The proposed support includes

• €3.8 million from the EGF, covering 85 % of the total support package
• €674 376 from the Walloon Public Employment Service, covering the remaining 15 %

The total support package is worth €4.5 million. Belgian authorities began helping affected workers in September 2025, soon after the first redundancies. These costs can be reimbursed retroactively by the EGF.

The measures will help people gain new skills and find work again as quickly as possible. They include

• Career counselling and guidance
• Skills certification
• Training
• Financial support for people who want to start their own business

Read the proposal

Support for dismissed car sector workers in Spain

In the Spanish province of Galicia, 671 workers were dismissed from 20 companies in the car sector. The region has been hit by trade and supply chain disruptions and a shift in investment towards electric vehicles.

The proposed support includes

• €2.7 million from the EGF, covering 85 % of the total cost
• €480 900 from the Galician regional government, covering 15 %

The total package is worth €3.2 million. Spanish authorities plan to start EGF support for workers on 1 September 2026.

The measures will help people return to work through

• Career counselling and guidance, job-search support and skills training
• Financial support for commuting and for carers of dependent persons
• Allowances to help people take part in training
• A return-to-work incentive of €200 per month for up to six months, especially to encourage older workers to stay in the labour market

Read the proposal

Next steps

The proposals now require approval by the European Parliament and the Council.

What is the EGF?

Since 2007, the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers has supported more than 185 000 people in 20 EU countries, with €737 million in funding. It works alongside national employment services to improve skills and employability and to build a more dynamic European economy.

The EGF was originally designed to support people who had already lost their jobs. It now also helps workers at risk of unemployment. Since May 2026, the EGF can fund training for workers who are likely to be dismissed, so they can move into new roles in the same company or find jobs elsewhere. EU countries can apply for EGF support while companies are still restructuring, so help can start before dismissals happen.

The Commission has also launched a Skills Guarantee pilot under the Union of Skills. This combines on-the-job training with a concrete job offer in a growing sector, to support job-to-job transitions. In July 2026, six pilot projects started in 10 EU countries to help over 1 000 workers facing unemployment.

Related documents

Related links

Press release

European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF)

Factsheet on the EGF