The report finds that SURE has been successful in cushioning the severe socio-economic impact resulting from the COVID-19 crisis. It has helped to ensure that the increase in unemployment in the beneficiary Member States during the crisis has been significantly smaller than during the global financial crisis, despite countries experiencing a larger decrease in GDP. The Commission's report found that the instrument supported between 25 and 30 million people in 2020 or around one quarter of the total number of people employed in the 18 beneficiary Member States. It also estimates that between 1.5 and 2.5 million firms affected by the COVID-19 pandemic have benefitted from SURE, allowing them to retain workers. Member States have saved an estimated €5.8 billion in interest payments by using SURE, compared to if they had issued sovereign debt themselves, thanks to the EU's high credit rating. The Commission has so far proposed a total of €90.6 billion in financial support to 19 Member States and SURE can still make over €9 billion in financial assistance available.