Following successful negotiations under the Danish and Cyprus presidencies of the Council of the European Union, the Regulation on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) was expanded to include support for workers threatened by displacement. The regulation was adopted by the Council of the European Union on 11 May 2026, and published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 20 May 2026. Provided they meet the eligibility criteria, enterprises undergoing major restructuring processes can apply for EGF support for workers threatened by displacement, thereby intervening in a timely manner before redundancies occur. This also applies to affected workers at suppliers or downstream manufacturers.
The new rules allow for earlier mobilisation of assistance for workers threatened by displacement. This expands the support measures and the scope of the EGF to help more people find new employment. EGF support includes training and continuing education, skills development measures, and counselling to facilitate the transition to new roles and careers.
Thus, the EGF will continue to allow for a flexible response to collective redundancy events in the future. The new regulations apply to applications submitted by the end of the 2027 funding period. Approximately EUR 30 million in EGF funding is available annually across the EU.