Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.
Overview of measures by category
As a response to the pandemic situation, many businesses were forced to reorient their business activities. Additionally, the war in Ukraine disrupted supply chains or altered market access. The cases presented in this category include company examples where production was changed or innovations were made in terms of markets or processes. It also includes examples of support instruments to facilitate such changes, such as the creation of platforms to market the (new) products or support aimed at matching businesses, to alleviate the impact of disrupted supply chains.
Overall, Eurofound has identified 195 measures in 30 countries for this category.
18 December 2020 |
Danish industrial companies change production to protective equipment
Denmark, Company practices |
18 December 2020 |
Incredible, Pick-up Service in Nicosia Mall
Cyprus, Company practices |
16 December 2020 Updated |
Business model adaptation at Letz Sushi
Denmark, Company practices |
16 December 2020 |
The state and Danish industry establish cooperation on companies' reorganisation to production of protective equipment
Denmark, Other initiatives or policies |
13 December 2021 |
Business Finland and Recovery and Resilience Facility funding
Finland, Other initiatives or policies |
09 December 2020 Updated |
E. Gulbja laboratory creates automated analysis collection machine
Latvia, Company practices |
09 December 2020 |
Crafts beer producer Labietis changes distribution channels
Latvia, Company practices |
09 December 2020 |
Madara Cosmetics starts to produce hand disinfectants
Latvia, Company practices |
08 December 2020 Updated |
Foodpanda Bulgaria: Expanding services and supporting partner businesses to survive
Bulgaria, Company practices |
07 December 2020 |
Latvijas balzams produces hand and surface sanitizer
Latvia, Company practices |
02 December 2020 |
LMA Aerospace Technology starts producing masks and sanification instruments
Italy, Company practices |
02 December 2020 Updated |
Temporary conversion of FCA plants to produce masks
Italy, Company practices |
02 December 2020 |
Larger than Live: Delivery of online live concerts
Netherlands, Company practices |
01 December 2020 |
L'Oréal: Production of hand sanitizer gel
Spain, Company practices |
01 December 2020 |
Destilaria Levira: Change in production processes
Portugal, Company practices |
01 December 2020 |
Solution Ozone: Change of core business
Portugal, Company practices |
01 December 2020 |
Brewdog: Protecting staff, business and community
United Kingdom, Company practices |
01 December 2020 |
CEiiA - change of business activity to face COVID-19 pandemic
Portugal, Company practices |
30 November 2020 |
3D printers against the COVID-19 pandemic
Czechia, Company practices |
27 November 2020 |
B&B Hotels: transformation of rooms into offices
Spain, Company practices |
26 November 2020 |
SEAT: Temporary conversion to produce respirators
Spain, Company practices |
26 November 2020 |
Repsol adapts part of its production to hydroalcoholic gel
Spain, Company practices |
19 November 2020 |
Product innovation in Slovnaft Bratislava
Slovakia, Company practices |
16 November 2020 |
Bortex Tailoring shift production to make facemasks and scrubs
Malta, Company practices |
16 November 2020 |
English language schools try to adapt during COVID-19
Malta, Company practices |
10 November 2020 Updated |
Protective masks made in Luxembourg
Luxembourg, Company practices |
10 November 2020 |
Dupont de Nemours Luxembourg S.À R.L: Large increase in demand for protection equipment
Luxembourg, Company practices |
07 November 2022 |
National Emissions Certificates Trading Law (NEHG)
Austria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
04 November 2022 |
Green Finance Alliance
Austria, Other initiatives or policies |
03 November 2020 |
Contactless delivery and new services by Bolt
Estonia, Company practices |
03 November 2020 |
Lesta starts production of disinfectant liquid
Lithuania, Company practices |
02 November 2023 |
SME development investments supporting sustainable growth and job creation (The Just Transition Programme)
Romania, Other initiatives or policies |
31 October 2022 |
Ban on new coal mining, natural gas and oil extraction projects
Sweden, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
30 October 2020 |
Absolut Vodka's change in business activity to produce disinfection
Sweden, Company practices |
30 October 2020 |
Essity changes core business to manufacture protective masks
Sweden, Company practices |
28 October 2020 |
Punch started manufacturing disinfection products
Estonia, Company practices |
27 October 2020 |
Passenger airline Finnair sells pre-cooked meals in Finnish supermarkets
Finland, Company practices |
21 October 2020 Updated |
New joint delivery service by Konzum and Uber
Croatia, Company practices |
21 October 2020 |
Enter 2020 information campaign shares information on best practices at workplaces during the COVID-19 pandemic
Finland, Other initiatives or policies |
23 September 2020 Updated |
Malta Enterprise administers business re-engineering consultancy
Malta, Other initiatives or policies |
21 September 2020 Updated |
Modernisation of construction equipment
Malta, Other initiatives or policies |
21 September 2020 |
Export credit guarantees to support entrance to new markets
Malta, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
21 September 2020 |
Cash grant for companies to produce products related to COVID
Malta, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
17 September 2022 |
State aid to support renewable hydrogen production
Romania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
16 September 2022 |
Energy saving in public administration buildings
Hungary, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
15 September 2022 |
Support for investments in Ida-Viru business to move away from oil-shale production
Estonia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 August 2022 |
Support for hydrogen projects in the maritime sector
Norway, Other initiatives or policies |
17 August 2022 |
Information on Green Economy and Jobs
Croatia, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
14 August 2022 Updated |
New green touristic offers: Another Side of Zagreb
Croatia, Other initiatives or policies |
11 July 2022 |
Ecodynamic Enterprise Label
Belgium, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
05 July 2021 Updated |
Restart Incentive Scheme 2021
Malta, Other initiatives or policies |
05 July 2021 Updated |
Smart and Sustainable Investment Scheme 2021
Malta, Other initiatives or policies |
02 July 2020 |
Subsidies for self-employed to reorient their business activities
Lithuania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
29 June 2023 |
Green Economy Productive Investments - Produc-E Gree
Greece, Other initiatives or policies |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Atlas i4.0
Italy, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Vouchers to cover for innovation consultancy
Italy, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Circular economy cheque
Belgium, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Connected Industry 4.0
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Workplace Innovation Toolkit
Ireland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 Updated |
SME Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGS)
Ireland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 Updated |
go-digital
Germany, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Implementation of a Program for SMEs robotisation
Sweden, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Energy Agenda
Netherlands, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Financial Advisory Service
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Made Different Digital Wallonia
Belgium, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Support for enhancement of employees and enterprise adaptability to changing economic conditions
Bulgaria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Impact Innovation
Austria, Other initiatives or policies |
23 June 2022 |
Sustainability Agenda for Beverage Packaging
Austria, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
23 June 2022 |
StartupPlus
Slovenia, Other initiatives or policies |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Business Finland
Finland, Other initiatives or policies |
23 June 2022 |
Digital diagnostic
Estonia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Program Czech Rise Up – Smart solutions to combat COVID-19
Czechia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Intellectual Property Attaché Network
United Kingdom, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Spain Tech Centre
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 Updated |
National Export Portal
Bulgaria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs)
Ireland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Enterprise Ireland
Ireland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
The Growth Fund
Denmark, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Innovation club in the craft sector
Luxembourg, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
ALMI Företagspartner business enterprise
Sweden, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Tax incentives for technology investment
Croatia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Innovation voucher programme
Ireland, Other initiatives or policies |
23 June 2022 |
Funding justifiable costs of vocational training
Croatia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 Updated |
National Innovation Fund (NIF): Strengthen technological capacity
Bulgaria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Regional Business Development Centres
Denmark, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Norwegian Innovation Clusters
Norway, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Entrepreneurship related measures by the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency
Estonia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Innovation Contracts
Norway, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
SIVA (The Industrial Development Corporation of Norway)
Norway, Other initiatives or policies |
23 June 2022 |
Collective Research Centres - patents unit
Belgium, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Innovation Norway
Norway, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
The Research Council of Norway (RCN)
Norway, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 Updated |
i2 - Business Angels
Austria, Other initiatives or policies |
23 June 2022 |
SARIO (Slovak Investments and Trade Development Agency)
Slovakia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
08 June 2020 Updated |
COVID-19 Response Greece initiative - community of volunteers
Greece, Company practices |
07 June 2023 |
Support for the digital and green transformation of industry
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
06 June 2023 Updated |
Subsidy for (lessening the cost of) reducing CO2 emissions
Netherlands, Other initiatives or policies |
06 June 2023 Updated |
Subsidy for companies to invest in technologies related to energy efficiency, recycling and reuse of water, local infrastructure and CO2-reducing measures
Netherlands, Other initiatives or policies |
06 June 2023 |
Subsidy to pilot or demonstrate CO2-reducing technologies within companies
Netherlands, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
02 June 2023 |
Recharging Station Sponsorship Scheme ‘Electrification by 1000’
Cyprus, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
20 May 2022 |
Support measures for building and public works companies
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
03 May 2023 |
Funding to make buildings more energy efficient and sustainable
Croatia, Other initiatives or policies |
16 April 2020 |
Hackathon contest leads to the production of Shield48 face shields
Latvia, Company practices |
15 April 2020 Updated |
Support measures to reorient business towards the production of disinfectants
Latvia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
13 April 2020 |
Ten companies, mainly from moulds and plastics, from Marinha Grande and Leiria, produce goggles for free distribution
Portugal, Other initiatives or policies |
13 April 2020 |
Good practice: Snowblowers to blow disinfectants
Austria, Company practices |
12 April 2023 |
Kaufland is introducing a new reusable packaging system
Croatia, Company practices |
12 April 2020 |
Country for the Future - Innovation to practice (COVID) - Digitalisation and innovations
Czechia, Other initiatives or policies |
11 April 2021 |
Fund for enhancing research and the industrial reconversion of the biopharmaceutical sector
Italy, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
10 April 2020 Updated |
Changes in the production of St. Nicolaus Distillery in Leopoldov
Slovakia, Company practices |
08 April 2020 Updated |
Czech Rise Up Programme 1.0 and 2.0 – Smart solutions to combat COVID-19
Czechia, Other initiatives or policies |
07 April 2020 |
Technology-COVID call within OPPIK
Czechia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
06 April 2021 |
Funding of restructuring projects in the event industry
Norway, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
05 April 2020 Updated |
Production of personal sanitary protective masks
Slovakia, Company practices |
22 February 2023 |
Economic transition fund Brussels
Belgium, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
22 February 2023 |
Circular economy grant
Belgium, Other initiatives or policies |
22 February 2023 |
Low carbon/circular advisor
Belgium, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
20 February 2023 |
Phasing out of harmful exemptions on oil and energy products
Portugal, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
17 February 2023 |
Emergency Intervention Addressing High Energy Prices
Slovenia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
07 February 2021 Updated |
Autoliv starts to produce masks
Poland, Company practices |
06 February 2021 |
Retail: “Click away” shopping during Christmas period
Greece, Company practices |
06 February 2021 |
LARIPLAST S.A.: Reorientation of production due the COVID-19 pandemic
Greece, Company practices |
03 February 2023 |
IV Agreement for the transition to climate neutrality in the cement sector
Spain, Bipartite collective agreements |
02 February 2021 |
Trade unions' opinion on the EU Chemical Strategy
European Union, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
12 January 2022 |
Incentives for the industrial and ecological transition
Italy, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
11 January 2022 |
Voucher for the purchase of consultancy services for SMEs
Italy, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
11 January 2022 |
Preventing the spread of COVID-19 in METRO stores
Bulgaria, Company practices |
11 January 2021 |
Contract for the inter-professional expansion
Italy, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
10 January 2022 |
COVID-19 prevention at Port Burgas
Bulgaria, Company practices |
10 January 2022 |
Sofia Plus App
Bulgaria, Company practices |
09 January 2022 |
Digital services delivered by ENERGO-PRO
Bulgaria, Company practices |
05 January 2021 Updated |
Fit 4 Resilience Strategic Innovation Programm
Luxembourg, Other initiatives or policies |
05 January 2021 |
Alu-company strengthens sales efforts through structured sales tools
Denmark, Company practices |
23 December 2021 |
Unifying the validity period of vaccination certificates
European Union, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
01 December 2020 |
Host: Digital service as response to COVID-19 restrictions
Portugal, Company practices |
01 December 2020 |
LIRA books and publishing group COVID-19 experience
Hungary, Company practices |
11 July 2021 |
Funding for the digital transformation of tourism activities and attractions
Ireland, Other initiatives or policies |
23 June 2022 |
Employers' Offices
Slovenia, Other initiatives or policies |
23 June 2022 |
Enterprise Finland
Finland, Other initiatives or policies |
26 April 2020 Updated |
COVID-19 online retail scheme
Ireland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
26 April 2020 Updated |
Trading online voucher scheme
Ireland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
08 April 2020 |
Online platform "There is no quarantine on the Internet"
Lithuania, Company practices |
31 March 2020 |
OpenHotel platform for essential workers
Austria, Other initiatives or policies |
02 December 2020 |
Labour matching and exchange: Snijder Project Support BV
Netherlands, Other initiatives or policies |
09 November 2022 |
Export Hub Bulgaria
Bulgaria, Other initiatives or policies |
11 July 2022 |
House for Business Creation and Transfer
France, Other initiatives or policies |
23 June 2022 |
fit4internet
Austria, Other initiatives or policies |
23 June 2022 |
Outplacement
Belgium, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Going for Growth
Ireland, Other initiatives or policies |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Joint purchase training
Finland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Go International Slovenia
Slovenia, Other initiatives or policies |
23 June 2022 |
Export Window
Slovenia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Commissioner to productive recovery
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Transenterprises
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
BNOA - National exchange for craft opportunities
France, Other initiatives or policies |
23 June 2022 |
Successor bourse
Belgium, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
SOWACCESS (Walloon company of merger/acquisition and closure/bankruptcy)
Belgium, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
CzechInvest – Investment and Business Development Agency
Czechia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Industrial researchers
Denmark, Other initiatives or policies |
23 June 2022 |
Succession bourse
Austria, Other initiatives or policies |
23 June 2022 |
Business Angels
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 Updated |
INVEST - Grant for venture capital
Germany, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Business Angels
Luxembourg, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Successors bourse
Luxembourg, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Poles of competitiveness
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Skillnet Ireland
Ireland, Other initiatives or policies |
23 June 2022 |
IDA Ireland
Ireland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Training and retraining for workers threatened by redundancies
Poland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Builders’ Social House
Romania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Job security councils
Sweden, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
12 April 2020 Updated |
Assisting small dairies with operating problems caused by COVID-19 disease
Croatia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
09 April 2020 |
Emergency package for Czech exporters
Czechia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
06 April 2020 |
Czech Network platform
Czechia, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
01 December 2020 |
Siemens Healthineers: Company supports staff volunteering at the National Health Service
United Kingdom, Company practices |
25 November 2020 |
Agreement for maintenance of employment in Inditex
Spain, Bipartite collective agreements |
29 October 2020 |
HOK-Elanto transferred 800 employees from restaurants to grocery stores in order to meet the needs of the rapidly changing market
Finland, Company practices |
23 June 2022 |
Rapid Reaction Service
Malta, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Secured voluntary mobility
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Temporary sublease of employees
Luxembourg, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Pre-redundancy counselling services
Romania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Flexpool
Netherlands, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Netherlands, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Regionale mobiliteitsteams (RMT's)
Netherlands, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Ad hoc cooperation agreement
Hungary, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Employers' groupings
Germany, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Professional security contract
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 Updated |
'Change Security' model
Finland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Competence Development Funds
Denmark, Other initiatives or policies |
23 June 2022 |
Reconversion cells
Belgium, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
16 April 2020 Updated |
Transfer of personnel to companies within the same group
Greece, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
03 April 2020 |
Transfer of employees from hotels and restaurants to food industry
Slovakia, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
20 February 2023 |
Polish government, unions sign social contract on power plants overhaul
Poland, Bipartite collective agreements |
14 September 2020 |
Confederation of British Industries' online coronavirus hub
United Kingdom, Other initiatives or policies |
23 June 2022 |
Guide to growth
Denmark, Other initiatives or policies |
03 January 2023 |
Tightening carbon tax exemptions on industry
Netherlands, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
30 January 2023
Governments across the EU continue to implement policies to support citizens and businesses in the face of rising food and energy prices caused by the COVID-19 crisis and intensified by the war in Ukraine. This article summarises the policy responses as reported in Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch database from January to September 2022.
Article12 September 2022
Although the worldwide pandemic situation had already disrupted supply chains and triggered increases in energy and food prices in 2021, the situation deteriorated in 2022 with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Article12 September 2022
This article summarises the first policy responses that governments across the EU have started to implement to support companies affected by the rising prices, and those with commercial ties to Ukraine, Russia or Belarus.
Article5 July 2022
This article summarises the first policy responses of EU Member States, including those of the social partners and other civil society actors, enabling refugees to exercise their rights under the Temporary Protection Directive.
ArticleDisclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.