19/05/2020 (Agence Europe) – In advance of the ‘Economic and Financial Affairs’ Council, the Member States of the European Union unanimously adopted by written procedure on Tuesday 19 May the European SURE instrument for temporary Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency, which will raise EUR 100 billion in loans to help Member States meet the sudden and significant costs associated with national short-time working schemes (see EUROPE 12459/1). The instrument will also cover health-related measures, in particular in the workplace (see EUROPE 12478/5). The Commission welcomed this adoption as “an important step” in addressing the socioeconomic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. The financial assistance will be available once all Member States have voluntarily committed themselves and signed their guarantee agreements with the Commission, the Commission recalls in its press release. (PH)