The European Parliament's Budgets Committee has approved plans to provide aid worth €1.8 million to assist an estimated 1,127 former furniture and textile employees.

Under the European Union (EU) initiative, which must still be passed by the Council of Ministers and the full Parliament, €1.2 million would be provided by the European Globalization Fund.

It will go towards schemes that help former workers with assistance seeking new jobs, starting their own businesses, developing personalized employment plans or undertaking training.

Both the clothing and furniture industries in Lithuania have been negatively impacted by the global economic crisis, including slowing construction activity in the case of the former.

The European Globalization Adjustment fund has this year also approved funding for initiatives to assist former Karmann industry employees in Germany and ex-workers in Lithuania's manufacturing and building sectors.

Lithuania has an estimated total population of just over 3,555,000 people and joined the EU in spring 2004.