AUTO INDUSTRY : OPEL'S ANTWERP WORKERS COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR EU FUNDS.

According to the European Commission, Belgium will be eligible for support under the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) if the shutdown of the Opel plant in Antwerp, announced by the management of General Motors on 21 January, is confirmed. With the layoff of more than 2,500 workers, "it is clear that the Opel case meets all the conditions," said a spokesman, on 22 January. He also mentioned the possibility of a European Social Fund intervention. At this stage, the Commission cannot do much, apart from noting the "priority" of helping workers find another job, since GM has not yet presented its definitive restructuring plan.

A meeting was scheduled between Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso and the Minister-President of Flanders (Belgium), Kris Peeters, late on the afternoon of 22 January, to "try to evaluate the situation". Peeters planned to ask the Commission to insist that GM submit its final restructuring plan. Last December, the member states asked the Commission to evaluate GM's restructuring plan - once it becomes available - before coming to a decision on possible national aid packages. Prior validation is seen as "the only way to ensure that GM is holding talks with all countries based on the same plan and that this plan does not change depending on the promises made in one place or another," said Enterprise and Industry Commissioner Gunter Verheugen.

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