#COVID-19 economic impact - €100 billion to keep people in jobs

Many businesses are experiencing economic difficulties as a result of the COVID-19 crisis and have had to temporarily suspend or substantially reduce their activities and the working hours of their staff. To support employers and to protect workers and the self-employed from losing their jobs or incomes, the European Commission is proposing a new temporary instrument called Sure (Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency), to complement national efforts to protect employment.

The proposal is part of a set of EU measures to help member states tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

Find out what other measures the EU has taken to combat the pandemic.

Protecting jobs during the crisis

During the crisis, the EU would provide financial assistance under the Sure programme in the form of loans granted on favourable terms to EU countries that request support. Assistance would finance national short-time work schemes, unemployment benefits and similar job protection measures. Up to €100 billion will be available to all 27 member states.

Short-time work schemes would allow families to maintain their incomes and continue paying their bills, while firms would be able to protect production capacity and employees, ensuring market stability. In the longer term, short-time work schemes can prevent more severe consequences on the economy and help businesses recover faster after the crisis.

Welcoming the creation of Sure and calling on EU countries to implement it quickly,  Slovak ECR member Lucia Ďuriš Nicholsonová, chair of Parliament's employment committee, said: "It is an important expression of EU solidarity and a helpful instrument to mitigate the socio-economic effects of the Covid-19 crisis. By supporting short-time work schemes and similar measures, Sure will help companies experiencing economic difficulties to keep people in jobs."

EU solution to support employment

While Sure is a temporary instrument designed specifically to tackle the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, the European Commission is also working on a new proposal for a European Unemployment Reinsurance Scheme to support employment and protect workers who lose their jobs due to economic shocks.

The European Parliament has said that such a basic unemployment benefit scheme would contribute directly to stabilising household income, thus strengthening the social dimension of Europe. In a resolution adopted on 17 April, MEPs reiterated their call for a permanent European Unemployment Reinsurance Scheme to ensure that workers in Europe are protected from income loss.

A future European Unemployment Benefit Reinsurance Scheme aims to reduce pressure on EU countries' public finances by providing support to national measures to preserve jobs and skills and to facilitate the transition back into work. The Commission is expected to present its proposal later this year.

Find out more what the EU is doing to reduce unemployment and fight poverty.

Next steps

The Sure proposal will come into effect once it has been approved by the Council.