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
This category includes measures to keep inflation or its impacts on citizens or businesses at bay, for instance via price controls, fiscal measures (e.g., subsidies or reduction of taxes on certain goods). This category also includes measures to increase income in general, for instance by indexing social benefits to inflation, or by providing one-time benefits.
Overall, Eurofound has identified 154 measures in 29 countries for this category.
30 September 2022 |
Support package for families with children
Finland, Other initiatives or policies |
16 September 2022 |
Tax-free "cost of living" bonus payments
Austria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
15 September 2022 |
Financial aid for pensioners
Romania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
15 September 2022 |
Additional support for vulnerable groups to address energy price increases
Latvia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
15 September 2022 |
Tax reform to abolish the "cold progression" and adjustment of social benefits to inflation
Austria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
14 September 2022 |
Minimum wage to be increased by 80c from January 2023
Ireland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
14 September 2022 |
One-time €200 bonus against inflation
Italy, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
14 September 2022 |
Exceptional supplement for pensioners
Portugal, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
14 September 2022 |
Increase in remuneration for public servants
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
14 September 2022 |
Lower social security contributions for the self-employed
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
14 September 2022 |
Increase in social benefits
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
14 September 2022 |
Early increase of social benefits
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
13 September 2022 |
Monetisation of rest days
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
13 September 2022 |
Extraordinary support to children and large families
Portugal, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
13 September 2022 |
Financial measures supporting families in the cost-of-living crisis
Austria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
13 September 2022 |
Climate bonus and inflation bonus
Austria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
13 September 2022 |
Extraordinary financial support for citizens with low and medium income
Portugal, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
12 September 2022 |
Encouraging branches to raise their minimum wages
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
12 September 2022 |
Financial benefits for coal industry workers
Poland, Company practices |
11 September 2022 |
Allowing exceptional unlocking of employee savings
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
11 September 2022 |
Facilitating the deployment of profit-sharing
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
10 September 2022 Updated |
Subsidies and fiscal bonuses for rising energy prices and inflation
Croatia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
10 September 2022 |
Value sharing bonus for employees
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
09 September 2022 |
Financial support for families and persons with disabilities
Cyprus, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
09 September 2022 |
Mortgage loan deferral for people in financial distress
Belgium, Other initiatives or policies |
08 September 2022 |
Income support for informal caregivers
Slovakia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
07 September 2022 |
Financial support for substitute child care providers
Slovakia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
07 September 2022 |
Increased support for the family during rising inflation
Slovakia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
05 September 2022 |
One-time child benefit
Czechia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
05 September 2022 |
Aid of €200 for workers, self-employed and unemployed people
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
05 September 2022 |
Subsidy to support humanitarian aid (inflation subsidy)
Slovakia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
04 September 2022 |
Material need benefit increase
Slovakia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
26 August 2022 |
Extra payment for pensioners
Poland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
01 June 2022 Updated |
One-time inflation compensation payment for people in need
Austria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
01 June 2022 |
Monthly subsidy for families to counter inflation
Portugal, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 May 2022 |
Revised public sector pay agreement concluded amid cost of living concerns
Ireland, Bipartite collective agreements |
18 May 2022 |
One-off subsidy for low-income employees
Italy, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
16 May 2022 |
Increase in social benefits to mitigate effects of increased cost of living
Finland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
13 May 2022 |
Ad-hoc financial support for vulnerable groups
Greece, Other initiatives or policies |
12 May 2022 Updated |
One-time payment for receivers of unemployment and social assistance and unemployment benefits
Germany, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
12 May 2022 Updated |
Temporary increase in the minimum living income
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
12 May 2022 |
Wage indexation advanced to address rise in prices
Luxembourg, Tripartite agreements |
03 May 2022 |
Increase in study allowances to mitigate the effects of increased cost of living
Finland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
29 April 2022 Updated |
Distribution of one-time bonus and tax refund cheques
Malta, Other initiatives or policies |
25 October 2022 Updated |
Energy Costs Contribution Scheme for energy-intensive SMEs
Netherlands, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
25 October 2022 |
Temporary price cap on energy
Netherlands, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
21 September 2022 |
Support program for the use of renewable energy resources in households
Latvia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
21 September 2022 |
Installation of electricity production equipment (including solar) for families
Latvia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
21 September 2022 |
State support for parents for the renovation of a private house and improvement of energy efficiency
Latvia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
19 September 2022 |
Subsidy to replace old electric appliances
Greece, Other initiatives or policies |
19 September 2022 |
Special levy on electricity producers
Greece, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
19 September 2022 |
Basic energy package to support household's energy bills
Belgium, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
17 September 2022 |
European rail transport threatened by soaring electricity prices
European Union, Other initiatives or policies |
16 September 2022 |
Energy saving in public administration buildings
Hungary, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
16 September 2022 |
Power pass: emergency financial support for household electricity
Greece, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
15 September 2022 |
Energy suppliers are not allowed to unilaterally modify contracts
Italy, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
15 September 2022 |
Reduction of the electricity system service fee for companies
Latvia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
15 September 2022 |
Support for household heating expenses
Latvia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
15 September 2022 |
Energy cost compensations for households
Estonia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
15 September 2022 |
Universal electricity service: Price caps on electricity for households
Estonia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
15 September 2022 |
Compensating purchasing costs of remote solar power plants
Lithuania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
15 September 2022 |
Zero VAT rate for district heating
Lithuania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
15 September 2022 |
Compensating households for price increases of electricity and natural gas
Lithuania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
15 September 2022 |
Electricity price brake
Austria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
14 September 2022 |
Corporate welfare and help with bills for employees
Italy, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
14 September 2022 |
Adjustment of the Tax on Petroleum and Energy Products for citizens
Portugal, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
14 September 2022 |
Mandate to authorities to take energy saving measures
Sweden, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
13 September 2022 |
Temporary electricity allowance for low income households
Finland, Other initiatives or policies |
12 September 2022 Updated |
Measures to mitigate rising energy costs
Slovenia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
12 September 2022 |
Partial subsidies for energy price increase
Slovenia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
12 September 2022 Updated |
One-time support for vulnerable groups’ energy bills
Slovenia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
10 September 2022 |
Energy price control for households and selected businesses
Croatia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
09 September 2022 |
Electricity support package for citizens and businesses
Cyprus, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
09 September 2022 |
Grant scheme for photovoltaic charging systems for electric vehicles
Cyprus, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
08 September 2022 |
Heating and electricity premiums for households
Belgium, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
07 September 2022 |
Electricity support scheme for sports teams and voluntary organisations
Norway, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
05 September 2022 |
Temporary tax deduction for high energy bills
Finland, Other initiatives or policies |
05 September 2022 |
Temporary reduction on value added tax on electricity
Finland, Other initiatives or policies |
05 September 2022 |
Energy saving and air-conditioning plans for publicly frequented buildings
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
05 September 2022 Updated |
Reduction of value added tax on electricity
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
02 September 2022 |
State allowance for energy and waived taxes for renewable energies
Czechia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
31 August 2022 |
Energy saving plan in the public sector
Greece, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
29 August 2022 |
Budapest utility bill subsidy for low income households
Hungary, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
29 August 2022 |
Utility price cap for microcompanies
Hungary, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
25 August 2022 |
Utility price cap scheme change
Hungary, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
24 August 2022 |
Coal subsidy for households
Poland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
24 August 2022 |
Price control and subsidies for heating for households and vulnerable entities
Poland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 August 2022 |
Temporary increase in housing allowance to cover high electricity costs
Norway, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
18 August 2022 |
Recovery of SME through energy efficiency
Bulgaria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
18 August 2022 |
VAT decrease for bread, heating and gas
Bulgaria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
01 June 2022 Updated |
Extraordinary and exceptional support to domestic consumers Beneficiaries of the Electricity Social Tariff in the Acquisition of Bottled Liquefied Petroleum Gas
Portugal, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
01 June 2022 |
Energy costs compensation voucher
Austria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
01 June 2022 |
Suspension of green electricity contributions
Austria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
24 May 2022 |
Subsidies for citizens to reduce the rise in energy prices
Latvia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
24 May 2022 Updated |
Electricity subsidy for companies
Greece, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 May 2022 |
Measures to compensate increasing energy prices for citizens
Belgium, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
20 May 2022 Updated |
Energy prices capping: Temporary benefits for consumers
Romania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
20 May 2022 Updated |
Subsidy for companies that are large consumers of gas and electricity
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
20 May 2022 Updated |
Subsidised natural gas for households and businesses
Greece, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
20 May 2022 Updated |
Electricity subsidy for consumers
Greece, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
20 May 2022 |
Extension of heat check subsidy for economically vulnerable groups
Denmark, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
19 May 2022 |
Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme for all Irish households
Ireland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
18 May 2022 Updated |
Subsidy for electricity costs in the agricultural sector and greenhouse industry
Norway, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
18 May 2022 Updated |
Electricity Support Act: Reducing household electricity costs
Norway, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
13 May 2022 |
One-time subsidy for energy bills of low-income households
Slovenia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
13 May 2022 |
Subsidies and fixed prices for businesses' energy bills
Slovenia, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
13 May 2022 Updated |
Energy tax credit based on income level replaces second wage indexation
Luxembourg, Tripartite agreements |
11 May 2022 Updated |
Energy bonus for enterprises
Italy, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
10 May 2022 |
More money for households to take energy-saving measures
Netherlands, Other initiatives or policies |
10 May 2022 Updated |
Extra energy allowance for lower incomes
Netherlands, Other initiatives or policies |
10 May 2022 Updated |
Reduction in VAT on energy and excise duty on petrol and diesel
Netherlands, Other initiatives or policies |
09 May 2022 Updated |
Child bonus 2022 to cushion pressures on families from rising energy prices
Germany, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
09 May 2022 Updated |
Energy price lump sum allowance for people paying income tax
Germany, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
09 May 2022 Updated |
Tax reduction on energy bill and reduction of tax rate on electricity
Netherlands, Other initiatives or policies |
25 February 2022 Updated |
Energy prices to remain frozen in 2022
Malta, Other initiatives or policies |
16 September 2022 |
Reduction of Single Tax on Circulation (IUC) for freight transport
Portugal, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
15 September 2022 |
Support to road transport of passengers and goods
Portugal, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
15 September 2022 |
Cut in excise duty rates of special purpose diesel fuel
Estonia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
14 September 2022 |
Cut in gasoline excise duty
Italy, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
14 September 2022 |
Freeze on the update of the carbon emissions tax addition
Portugal, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
14 September 2022 |
Temporary cost support for transportation companies
Finland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
13 September 2022 |
Increased support for employees costs of transport
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
12 September 2022 |
Setting prices for certain petroleum products
Slovenia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
08 September 2022 |
Federal measures to reduce fuel prices
Belgium, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
18 August 2022 |
State aid for discount of 25 cents per litrе of fuel
Bulgaria, Other initiatives or policies |
01 June 2022 |
Autovoucher subsidy for fuel consumption
Portugal, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
30 May 2022 Updated |
Tax cut on fuel
Cyprus, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
24 May 2022 Updated |
Price cap on fuel and basic food items
Hungary, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
20 May 2022 |
Lower tax on diesel for companies in forestry, agriculture and aquaculture
Sweden, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
19 May 2022 |
Compensation for owners of private cars to mitigate hike in fuel prices
Sweden, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
19 May 2022 Updated |
Discount on the price of all fuels
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
13 May 2022 Updated |
Subsidy for fuels for low- to medium-income individuals and taxi services
Greece, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
13 May 2022 Updated |
Reduction of fuel prices for all consumers
Luxembourg, Tripartite agreements |
11 May 2022 Updated |
20 cent reduction per litre of fuel refuelled
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
10 May 2022 Updated |
Temporary reduction in fuel tax
Germany, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
12 September 2022 |
Relaxation of the conditions for the use of meal vouchers
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
12 September 2022 |
Ensuring transparency of retail prices for consumers
Slovenia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
10 September 2022 |
Limitation of the prices of basic food items
Croatia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
05 September 2022 Updated |
Aid for urban and inter-urban transport to reduce fares
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
05 September 2022 Updated |
Free multi-journey ticket with Spanish rail transport RENFE
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
01 June 2022 |
Increased commuter allowance
Austria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 May 2022 |
Government launches €505 million cost of living package
Ireland, Other initiatives or policies |
13 May 2022 |
Rent freeze to cope with inflationary pressures
Luxembourg, Tripartite agreements |
12 May 2022 Updated |
Reduced €9 monthly ticket for local public transport
Germany, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
11 May 2022 |
Food vouchers for vulnerable citizens
Romania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
15 September 2022 |
Emergency support for farmers affected by input prices and trade restrictions
Estonia, Other initiatives or policies |
14 September 2022 |
Reduction of transport costs and greenhouse gases
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
12 September 2022 |
Aid for agriculture and fisheries
Slovenia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
20 May 2022 |
Package to secure supplies in the agricultural sector
Finland, Other initiatives or policies |
20 May 2022 |
Support measures for building and public works companies
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
17 May 2022 |
Financial aid for farmers
Greece, Other initiatives or policies |
13 May 2022 |
Public aids for the fisheries sector
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
13 May 2022 |
Public aids for the agricultural sector
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
29 April 2022 Updated |
Subsidy for importers of cereals and flour
Malta, Other initiatives or policies |
30 January 2023
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