IN LONDON: The European Commission has proposed to mobilise €2 million ($3.3 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 materials shortage.
As a result, a restructuring process took place and a legal transfer of Liberty Steel to Liberty Galati (Romania) in 2023. Despite efforts, production never resumed and workers were placed in short-term work schemes.
The EGF funding will support affected workers through measures such as career counselling and guidance, training in new professional and horizontal skills, as well as assistance for those wishing to start their own businesses.
The European Commission says 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% will be covered by the commission and 15% by the Walloon public employment services.
Since 2007, the EGF has granted financial support to 181,167 people in 20 member states, intervening in 186 cases with €727 million disbursed. The funds complement national active labour market measures.
GMK Center reports that in September 2025, Belgian steel enterprises increased steel production by 12.2% compared to the previous month, to 580,000 tonnes.
Belgium’s steel industry ranks 23rd in the World Steel Association’s global ranking of steel-producing countries.
In general, EU steel companies reduced steel production by 4.5% year-on-year in September 2025 to 10.1 million tonnes, and by 3.7% year-on-year in January-September to 94.6 million tonnes.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
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