Briefing 
 

How to mitigate the social and economic consequences of the COVID-19 crisis 

Employment losses in the EU and ways to foster economic and social recovery from COVID-19 will be discussed with Council and Commission, on Wednesday.

Instruments to protect employment and income in times of economic crisis, the SURE programme, the proposals announced by the Commission on a minimum wage and unemployment reinsurance scheme, as well as a reinforced Youth Guarantee, are likely to be among the issues addressed in the debate.


The social dimension of the COVID-19 crisis will continue to be closely monitored by Parliament, in particular by its Employment and Social Affairs Committee. It also ranks high on the agenda of the current trio of EU Council Presidencies consisting of Germany, Portugal and Slovenia.


The EU unemployment rate was 7.4% in August 2020, up from 6.6% in the same month of 2019, according to Eurostat.


Council and Commission statements

2020/2792(RSP)

Debate: Wednesday, 21 October