Council Regulation (EU) 2020/672 on the establishment of a European instrument for temporary support to mitigate unemployment risks in an emergency (SURE) following the COVID-19 outbreak

Summary:

Regulation adopted by the Council of the European Union on 19 May 2020, which sets up an instrument for temporary Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE).

Further information:

This Regulation establishes the SURE instrument as a tool to address the impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and respond to its socio-economic consequences. It lays down the conditions and procedures enabling the European Union (EU) to provide financial assistance to Member States for the financing, primarily, of short-time work schemes or similar measures aimed at protecting employees and the self-employed and thus reducing the incidence of unemployment and loss of income. It also covers the financing, as an ancillary, of some health-related measures, in particular in the workplace.

This proposal was adopted by the European Commission on 2 April 2020 as part of a package of measures on mobilising the full extent of the EU Budget. The Council of the European Union formally endorsed the initiative on 19 May. It was published in the Official Journal on 20 May.

• Primary Source

Commentary and Analysis

EurActiv, 01/04/2020: This is how the EU’s €100 billion corona-fund will work https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/news/this-is-how-the-eus-e100-billion-corona-fund-will-work/

CEPS: In Brief, 06/04/2020: Will SURE shield EU workers from the corona crisis? https://www.ceps.eu/will-sure-shield-eu-workers-from-the-corona-crisis/

CEPS: Policy Contributions, 09/04/2020: Protecting Employment in the time of coronavirus. What is the EU’s €100 billion going to buy? https://www.ceps.eu/ceps-publications/protecting-employment-in-the-time-of-coronavirus/

EurActiv, 15/04/2020: Europe’s half-empty sandwich https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/opinion/europes-half-empty-sandwich/

EPRS: At a Glance, April 2020: Temporary support to mitigate unemployment risks in an emergency (SURE) https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2020)649375

EPRS: Briefing, April 2020: The SURE: Main Features https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=IPOL_BRI(2020)645721

Foreign Policy, 24/04/2020: A Tale of Two Rescue Plans https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/04/24/united-states-europe-coronavirus-pandemic-shutdown-unemployment/

Social Europe, 28/04/2020: The nascent paradigm shift in the EU https://www.socialeurope.eu/the-nascent-paradigm-shift-in-the-eu

Euronews, 06/05/2020: The EU's 100 billion euro scheme to tackle unemployment caused by COVID-19 https://www.euronews.com/2020/04/22/the-eu-s-100-billion-euro-scheme-to-tackle-unemployment-caused-by-covid-19

Bruegel: Events, 15/05/2020: Rationale and limitations of SURE https://www.bruegel.org/events/rationale-and-limitations-of-sure/

EPRS: Briefing, February 2021: The SURE: Implementation https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=IPOL_BRI(2021)659638

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News

EurActiv, 01/04/2020: Eurogroup to discuss EU-wide unemployment reinsurance scheme https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/news/eurogroup-to-discuss-eu-wide-unemployment-reinsurance-scheme/

Politico, 02/04/2020: Von der Leyen calls for ‘tangible’ solidarity on €100B jobs scheme https://www.politico.eu/article/von-der-leyen-calls-for-tangible-solidarity-on-e100b-jobs-scheme/

CNN Business, 02/04/2020: Millions of Europeans are losing their jobs. The EU wants to raise €100 billion to help https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/02/economy/europe-job-losses-relief/index.html

Euronews, 02/04/2020: EU hopes to mitigate lockdown and help workers with €100 billion fund https://www.euronews.com/2020/04/02/eu-hopes-to-mitigate-lockdown-and-help-workers-with-100-billion-fund

EUObserver, 03/04/2020: EU launches €100bn worker support scheme https://euobserver.com/coronavirus/147976

Jornal Económico, 15/05/2020: Council of the European Union gives 'green light' to temporary program against unemployment https://jornaleconomico.sapo.pt/en/news/council-of-the-european-union-of-the-green-light-to-temporary-program-against-unemployment-589169

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Official

European Commission: DG Economic and Financial Affairs: SURE https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economy-euro/economic-and-fiscal-policy-coordination/eu-financial-assistance/loan-programmes/sure_en

EUR-Lex: COM(2020)139: Proposal for a Council Regulation on the establishment of a European instrument for temporary support to mitigate unemployment risks in an emergency (SURE) following the COVID-19 outbreak https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2020:139:FIN

European Parliament: Legislative Train Schedule: Temporary Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE) https://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-an-economy-that-works-for-people/file-coronavirus-sure-eu-support-to-mitigate-unemployment-risks-in-emergency/01-2021

European Commission: Press Release, 02/04/2020: Questions and answers: Commission proposes SURE, a new temporary instrument worth up to €100 billion to help protect jobs and people in work https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/QANDA_20_572

European Parliament: Headlines, 28/04/2020: Covid-19's economic impact: €100 billion to keep people in jobs https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20200416STO77205/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 15/05/2020: COVID-19: Council reaches political agreement on temporary support to mitigate unemployment risks in an emergency (SURE) https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/05/15/covid-19-council-reaches-political-agreement-on-temporary-support-to-mitigate-unemployment-risks-in-an-emergency-sure/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 19/05/2020: COVID-19: Council adopts temporary support to mitigate unemployment risks in an emergency (SURE) https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/05/19/covid-19-council-reaches-political-agreement-on-temporary-support-to-mitigate-unemployment-risks-in-an-emergency-sure/

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