03/10/2016 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 3 October, the European Commission and the authorities from the Walloon Region of Belgium formally met for the first time as part of the working group responsible for following the process relating to the announcement made by Caterpillar to close its factory in Gosselies (see EUROPE 11619). The aim of this first meeting was to examine the progress made in the action currently being taken and the approaches adopted by the different stakeholders. It also sought to look at possible prospects for the factory, subcontractors and the region as a whole, explained the Commission in a press release. This working group is due to prepare possible European level action (with various funding) to assist the workers affected. The decision to close a factory could lead to collective redundancies of 2,200 people by the end of 2017. (JK)