Belgium commits to new global job fund alongside Spain, Germany

Belgium is committing €3 million to the Global Accelerator for Jobs and Social Protection and Just Transitions, Belgium’s Development Cooperation Minister Caroline Gennez announced, as Germany and Spain respectively committed €7 million and €10 million to the new fund ahead of the UN General Assembly session in New York Monday.

This was announced at the summit on sustainable Development Goals that preceded the start of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly on Monday.

“Belgium will support the Global Employment and Social Protection Accelerator for Just Transitions,” Gennez wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

“Developing countries will be able to develop systems such as pensions and mutual funds by drawing on the expertise and know-how of countries like Belgium”, she added.

Launched by the UN Secretary-General in September 2021, this new initiative aims to create 400 million so-called ‘decent’ jobs, particularly in sustainable sectors such as the green economy, digital and healthcare, while extending social protection to 4 billion people currently out of reach.

“Belgium co-launched this initiative and is playing an important role in its coordination and management”, Gennez said on X.

In April, this initiative received official support from Belgium and three other EU member states, namely Portugal, Germany and Spain. Together, they issued a joint declaration calling on other countries to participate.

The Deputy Head of the EU Delegation in New York, Ambassador Silvio Gonzato, also expressed the EU’s support for the project, underlining the “similar objectives” with the European “Global Gateway” initiatives, “promoting sustainable investment and employment in our partner countries”.

Prime Minister Alexander de Croo is also expected to present the priorities of Belgium’s EU Council Presidency to the General Assembly on Wednesday.

(Nina Chabot | Euractiv.com)