At a working group meeting on Wednesday 29 April, EU member states have almost completely stabilised the text on the SURE instrument for temporary support—intended to alleviate the risk of unemployment in emergency situations— both in terms of the sunset clause and the scope.
The scope should therefore be extended to include certain health measures, in particular in the workplace, as requested notably by the Netherlands and Romania (see EUROPE 12476/6). However, where appropriate, the instrument may target other health-related measures, ensuring to always leave an element of flexibility. This is likely to have displeased Germany, who would have preferred the scope to be more closely linked to employment.
The sunset clause has been maintained until 31 December 2022. Denmark, who wished to set this clause to 31 January 2022, would have had no objections.
What now remains is to introduce clarifications, as requested by the Nordic States, in relation to the guarantee to be provided by the Member States and its use. The proposal would be that the European Commission, before calling upon national guarantees, should draw on the margin available under the ceiling of the European Union's own resources in respect of payment appropriations. A technical meeting with the European Commission is expected to be held on Monday 4 May on this issue. Another meeting of the dedicated working group could be held at a later date.
The text might well then land on the negotiating table of the Member States' ambassadors to the Union as late as next week. We are told that a meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives II (Coreper II) could be held next Friday. If necessary, the text could then be discussed in Coreper II on Wednesday 13 May.
To consult the compromise of the Croatian Presidency of the EU Council dated 27 April, please visit: https://bit.ly/3de36uv (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)