Brussels proposes to support 3,400 Audi employees made redundant in Belgium with 7.5 million euros

The European Commission (EC) proposed this Friday to mobilize 7.5 million euros to help more than 3,400 workers laid off after the closure of the Audi car manufacturer’s plant in Brussels, to help them acquire new skills and re-enter the labor market. The measure financed by the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF), which still needs the approval of the European Parliament and the Council, aims to help 2,580 former workers of the automotive company and 834 workers from Audi suppliers, the Commission explained in a statement published this Friday. The decision to allocate community funds for these 3,414 layoffs arises in response to the company’s decision to close its plant in Brussels in February 2025, after interrupting the production of the new Q8 e-tron model in the Belgian capital.

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The aid package, valued at 8.8 million euros, will be aimed at measures such as career guidance, training in new professional and horizontal skills, or support for the creation of new own businesses. The Community Executive will cover 85% of the total estimated cost of this measure (€7.5 million), while the remaining 15% (€1.3 million) will be covered by the Belgian Regional Public Employment Services. The Belgian authorities began providing EGF support to workers in February 2025, shortly before the first layoffs and after the end of the support services provided by Audi to its workers. The Commission’s proposal now requires approval by the European Parliament and the Council.