The European Commission on 30 April proposed drawing €2 million from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) to help 803 employees laid off after car-glass producer Soliver collapsed in July 2025. The money will co-finance career counselling, reskilling and recruitment events run by Flemish employment services, with the remaining 15 % of the €2.5 million package coming from the regional budget. While the measure is not an immigration policy per se, it sits at the intersection of labour-market mobility and industrial transformation. Automotive suppliers across Belgium are under pressure from electric-vehicle restructuring, and the Commission wants displaced staff to acquire skills transferable to growth sectors before they consider moving abroad for work. For global-mobility teams, the support could expand the pool of locally available technicians and engineers, reducing the need for expensive inbound assignments. Conversely, upskilled workers may become attractive candidates for cross-border projects in neighbouring countries, boosting outward mobility within the EU.
![EU moves to mobilise €2 million for 803 Belgian workers displaced by Soliver bankruptcy]()
For employers and workers exploring such cross-border opportunities, VisaHQ can streamline the paperwork by providing up-to-date visa and permit guidance for Belgium and more than 200 other destinations. Their online platform (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) offers personalised checklists, processing services and compliance alerts, ensuring that HR teams and individuals can move talent quickly and confidently as new opportunities arise.
The proposal now heads to the European Parliament and Council, where approval is usually a formality. If green-lighted, beneficiaries will be able to access training vouchers and language courses by early autumn – timing that aligns with OEM ramp-ups for 2027 EV production lines in Flanders. Companies planning large relocations or workforce reductions in Belgium should note that the broadened EGF can now be tapped proactively, covering training costs even before dismissals occur, provided the restructuring meets threshold criteria.
For employers and workers exploring such cross-border opportunities, VisaHQ can streamline the paperwork by providing up-to-date visa and permit guidance for Belgium and more than 200 other destinations. Their online platform (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) offers personalised checklists, processing services and compliance alerts, ensuring that HR teams and individuals can move talent quickly and confidently as new opportunities arise.
The proposal now heads to the European Parliament and Council, where approval is usually a formality. If green-lighted, beneficiaries will be able to access training vouchers and language courses by early autumn – timing that aligns with OEM ramp-ups for 2027 EV production lines in Flanders. Companies planning large relocations or workforce reductions in Belgium should note that the broadened EGF can now be tapped proactively, covering training costs even before dismissals occur, provided the restructuring meets threshold criteria.
