The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers

 

The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) helps people who have lost or are at risk of losing their jobs because of sudden and major economic changes. Such changes can be caused by e.g. globalisation, economic crises, technological development or global disruptions, such as pandemics.

Support from the Fund can be used to promote employment, competence development, reskilling and entrepreneurship. The aim is to improve the affected workers’ ability to continue employment or to transfer to new tasks as easily as possible.

The support from the European Commission is available in situations where at least 200 workers have been terminated or are at risk of being terminated by a single company or sector in a certain area. Support may also be granted when the changes have a substantial impact on employment and the local economy in a small labour market area.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is responsible for the administration of the Fund in Finland and prepares Finland’s applications to the European Commission. The rules on EGF activities are laid down in Regulations (EU) 2021/691 and (EU) 2026/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council, which will remain in force until 2027.