What will happen to unemployment benefits in the EU?

The immediate economic effect of COVID19 is a sharp increase in unemployment rates. As a result payments for the unemployed will become a significant part of EU member states budgets. The EU Commission has proposed a new programme called SURE. Is this the beginning of more direct EU involvement in national unemployment schemes? Will SURE be enough? Are other social protection measures also necessary?

Show Notes

The immediate economic effect of COVID19 is a sharp increase in unemployment rates. As a result payments for the unemployed will become a significant part of EU member states budgets. This implies risks that despite the similar impact of the pandemic not all member states will be able to support their economies and workers to the same level, resulting in divergences in the internal market and social crises.  

In this context the EU Commission has proposed a new programme called SURE “supporting short-time work schemes and similar measures, to help Member States protect jobs and thus employees and self-employed against the risk of unemployment and loss of income.” Is this the beginning of more direct EU involvement in national unemployment schemes? Will SURE be enough? Are other social protection measures also necessary?

We discuss these and other issues with:

Raymond Torres, director for Macroeconomy and International Analysis of Funcas.

Amandine Crespy, Associate Professor at the Université libre de Bruxelles.

László Andor, Secretary-General Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS), former commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion at the European Commission (2010-2014).

Moderation: Carlos Carnicero Urabayen. 

Technical production and edition: Franco Delle Donne. 

An OpenEUpodcast produced by Agenda Pública.

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What is Europe after coronavirus?

A series of ten podcasts by the Jean Monnet OpenEUdebate network. Each podcast features debates among experts from academia, civil society and politics on the effect of the pandemic on different scenarios for the future of the European Union.

This podcast series has been made with the financial support of the European Union Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). The podcasts only reflect the views of the speakers and the Commission and the Agency cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.