Thousands of workers in Brussels gathered to protest possible large-scale layoffs at a high-tech car factory, which is a significant symbol for crucial industries in the European Union seeking increased government support to combat global competition. The demonstration stemmed from German automaker Audi’s decision to phase out production at its Forest plant in southern Brussels, putting 3,000 jobs at risk, including many skilled in electronic vehicle manufacturing, an area the EU aims to boost to compete with China and the United States.
Salvatore Tabone, an Audi employee of 27 years facing layoff, expressed his disappointment, highlighting that the situation at Audi could set a precedent for other factories. Union representative Lieve De Preter noted that this was not an isolated incident, with multiple industries in Belgium affected by similar challenges in the past year.
A substantial EU-commissioned report indicated that the EU’s economies require a financial injection of up to 800 billion euros to navigate a shift towards clean energy and stay competitive globally. The European Trade Union Confederation highlighted a concerning trend with Europe losing 850,000 industry jobs between 2019 and 2023, emphasizing the need for stronger support for the EU’s industries.
ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch underscored the urgency of the situation, stating that the risk to thousands of jobs near the EU institutions should be a wake-up call for EU leaders to ramp up support for industries. The EU leadership, under Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, is in a phase of transition post the June 9 EU elections and has identified an overhaul of the bloc’s industrial policy as a critical agenda for its upcoming 5-year term.
