European football leagues have been given a May 25 deadline to inform governing body UEFA of their plans to restart their domestic competitions.
European football's governing body has issued guidelines to all 55 associations after an agreement last week that qualification for next season's Champions League and Europa League must be decided on 'sporting merit' this season.
The guidance, issued by UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis states: "National associations and/or leagues should be in a position to communicate to UEFA by 25 May 2020 the planned restart of their domestic competitions including the date of restart and the relevant competition format."
UEFA has also asked associations, such as the Dutch FA, to "explain the special circumstances justifying such premature termination" by the same deadline, in relation to the clubs it wants to compete in Europe next season.
UEFA's Executive Committee will hold its next conference call on May 27, where it intends to reach a decision over whether this season's European competitions can be completed in August.
But UEFA's top officials will be sympathetic to any league that is unable to provide clarity by May 25, due to ongoing government uncertainty over the coronavirus pandemic.
A UEFA working group has made a "strong recommendation" that domestic seasons are completed, but administrators would prefer suspended domestic competitions to restart "with a different format", rather than cancel them.
It has been agreed that associations may cancel their season only if governments prevent sporting events from taking place or 'insurmountable economic problems' risk the 'long-term financial stability' of domestic competitions and clubs.
UEFA has also asked the 12 host cities of next summer's delayed European Championship to confirm their participation by Thursday [April 30].
Earlier this month, UEFA's intention was to use the same cities but has yet to confirm schedules for matches.
Talks are ongoing with representatives of hosts Amsterdam, Baku, Bilbao, Bucharest, Budapest, Copenhagen, Dublin, Glasgow, London, Munich, Rome and St Petersburg, led by Martin Kallen, CEO of UEFA Events.
The Premier League will hold further talks this week, as it targets a return behind closed doors in June - and it has the backing of the government, when it is safe to do so.
All 20 clubs will hold their latest conference call on Friday and talks will resume over whether games must return at approved stadiums or a neutral venue, such as St George's Park.
The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Oliver Dowden said in the House of Commons on Monday: "I personally have been in talks with the Premier League, with a view to getting football up and running as soon as possible in order to support the whole football community.
"But, of course, any such moves would have to be consistent with public health guidance."