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 target group – category: Citizens
Eurofound has identified 51 measures for this target group. Most of these measures fall into the category Measures to prevent social hardship (37%).
Income protection beyond short-time work |
|
---|---|
07 November 2022 |
Financial aid for unemployed persons with disabilities
Croatia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
13 April 2020 Updated |
Special subsidised care time for working parents and carers
Austria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
07 April 2020 Updated |
Care allowance during emergency period for homeschooling 6 to 13 year-old children
Czechia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Measures to prevent social hardship |
|
01 December 2020 |
Anglian Water: Giving back to the community during crisis
United Kingdom, Company practices |
25 November 2020 Updated |
United against COVID-19: Campaign to fund projects for vulnerable people
Bulgaria, Other initiatives or policies |
12 November 2020 |
Fund supporting non-self-sufficient people
Italy, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
02 October 2020 Updated |
COVID-19 protocol to ensure the safety of care transport
Netherlands, Other initiatives or policies |
01 October 2020 Updated |
Renewal of the validity of the disability certificates and the payment of benefits
Greece, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
13 July 2020 |
Additional financial support for people in precarious situations
Belgium, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
02 July 2020 |
A lump sum of €200 for pensioners and disabled people
Lithuania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
20 May 2022 Updated |
Access to social services for vulnerable refugees from Ukraine
Romania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
19 May 2022 |
Support for vulnerable groups to cope with increasing costs
Estonia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
01 May 2022 Updated |
Social rights and assistance for refugees from Ukraine
Croatia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
26 April 2021 |
One time benefit for pensioners and people with disabilities
Latvia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
16 April 2020 Updated |
Governmental GBP 500 million fund for council tax relief for people in need
United Kingdom, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
16 April 2020 Updated |
Strengthening municipal social policy and solidarity: Help at home programme
Greece, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
16 April 2020 Updated |
Athens home care programme for people in need
Greece, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
14 April 2020 |
COVID-19 €100 million special fund for 24-hour nursing care
Austria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
13 April 2020 Updated |
Extension of period for recipients of social rights allowances
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
12 April 2020 |
Contingency fund to protect the elderly dependent, disabled and homeless persons
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
10 April 2020 Updated |
One-time solidarity allowance for retired persons, large families and other vulnerable groups
Slovenia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
07 February 2021 |
“Alliance against COVID”: Joint action by the social partners GSEE and GSEVEE and the radio station Alpha989
Greece, Other initiatives or policies |
Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery |
|
14 October 2020 Updated |
Financial support to hire workers with disabilities
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
12 October 2020 |
Government announces extra funds for carers and people with disabilities
Ireland, Other initiatives or policies |
07 October 2020 |
Economic aids for people with disabilities
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
02 October 2020 |
Internship ATIVAR.PT - Internships for unemployed persons with disability or impairment
Portugal, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
02 October 2020 |
Guidelines for the support of people with special needs
Germany, Tripartite agreements |
25 September 2020 |
Help with heart: Labour market re-integration for disabled workers
Slovakia, Company practices |
15 September 2020 |
Subsidising job creation/adaptation
Lithuania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
10 September 2020 |
Support for self-employment of people with disabilities
Lithuania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
24 August 2020 Updated |
Employment grant to promote access to employment
Malta, Other initiatives or policies |
21 August 2022 Updated |
Green and digital employment subsidies
Croatia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
13 July 2021 |
New Pathways to Work strategy as part of National Recovery Plan
Ireland, Other initiatives or policies |
09 July 2021 |
Summer business package to boost economy and holiday activities
Denmark, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
29 June 2023 |
Save/renovate my home – for young people
Greece, Other initiatives or policies |
20 February 2023 |
'Saving - Autonomy' programme for residential buildings' energy upgrade
Greece, Other initiatives or policies |
31 January 2023 |
Grant for the purchase of a new bicycle for the season 2022-2023
Cyprus, Other initiatives or policies |
Responses to inflation |
|
19 September 2022 |
Subsidy to replace old electric appliances
Greece, Other initiatives or policies |
15 September 2022 |
Additional support for vulnerable groups to address energy price increases
Latvia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
14 September 2022 Updated |
Early increase of social benefits
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 Updated |
Extraordinary financial support for citizens with low and medium income
Portugal, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
12 September 2022 Updated |
One-time support for vulnerable groups’ energy bills
Slovenia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
09 September 2022 |
Financial support for families and persons with disabilities
Cyprus, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
05 September 2022 |
Subsidy to support humanitarian aid (inflation subsidy)
Slovakia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
02 June 2023 |
Energy card for vulnerable people
Romania, 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 |
Ad-hoc financial support for vulnerable groups
Greece, Other initiatives or policies |
11 May 2022 Updated |
Food vouchers for vulnerable citizens
Romania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
26 February 2023 |
Extraordinary financial support for vulnerable groups
Greece, Other initiatives or policies |
21 February 2023 |
Humanitarian aid subsidy for social services
Slovakia, 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.