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: Businesses
Eurofound has identified 88 measures for this target group. Most of these measures fall into the category Supporting businesses to stay afloat (41%).
Ensuring business continuity and support for essential services |
|
---|---|
23 June 2022 |
Team Finland - Services supporting the internationalisation of businesses
Finland, Other initiatives or policies |
02 February 2021 |
EU sectoral social partners call for the safety of seafarers
European Union, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
02 February 2021 |
Liftago: Replacement of passengers transport by consignments
Czechia, Company practices |
Supporting businesses to stay afloat |
|
02 December 2021 |
Temporary regulation subsidy for events
Netherlands, Other initiatives or policies |
23 November 2020 |
Aid plan for franchisees of Restalia group
Spain, Company practices |
06 November 2020 Updated |
Turnover-based support for sole traders
Sweden, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
04 November 2020 |
Tax reductions for businesses
Romania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
31 October 2020 |
COVID-SPORT: Financial support for sports institutions
Czechia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
21 October 2020 |
Fund to support the solvency of strategic companies
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
05 October 2020 |
Tesi's Venture Bridge investment program for innovative companies seeking for growth
Finland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
02 October 2020 Updated |
Fiscal support measures to micro, small and medium businesses
Portugal, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
14 September 2020 |
Practical tool for companies to document business changes due to COVID-19
Germany, Other initiatives or policies |
24 August 2022 Updated |
Loans for entrepreneurs affected by the war in Ukraine
Poland, Other initiatives or policies |
04 August 2021 |
Working capital subsidy for companies affected by the pandemic in the tourism and hospitality sector – Restart Tourism
Greece, Other initiatives or policies |
13 July 2020 Updated |
Open monument loan
Netherlands, Other initiatives or policies |
09 July 2020 |
The Future Fund Scheme
United Kingdom, Other initiatives or policies |
23 June 2022 |
Support for Succession in Family Businesses
Poland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Soft loans to provide liquidity in the most affected sectors
Lithuania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Helping hand loan
Belgium, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 June 2022 |
Internationalisation activities of the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency
Estonia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
20 May 2022 |
European universities show solidarity with Ukrainian partners
European Union, Other initiatives or policies |
18 May 2022 Updated |
Grants for small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises affected by the war in Ukraine
Italy, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
27 April 2020 Updated |
Support for agriculture and agricultural industries
Norway, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
26 April 2020 |
COVID-19 business financial planning grant
Ireland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 April 2020 Updated |
Extra package of support measures for the cultural sector
Netherlands, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
15 April 2022 |
Tax deferral for energy-intensive undertakings
Lithuania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
15 April 2020 |
Credit guarantee for SMEs
Italy, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
14 April 2021 Updated |
Turnover-based support for trading companies
Sweden, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
10 April 2020 |
Suspension of value added tax (VAT) payment
Cyprus, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
09 April 2021 Updated |
Gefira II (Bridge II) - State contribution to the tranches for the payment of business or professional debts of all types
Greece, Other initiatives or policies |
09 April 2021 |
Supporting measures for cultural operators and artists
Cyprus, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
09 April 2021 |
State sponsorship scheme for certain categories of non-VAT registered businesses and self-employed persons
Cyprus, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
06 April 2020 Updated |
Measures of Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR) and Croatian Agency for SMEs, Innovation and Investment (HAMAG-BICRO)
Croatia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
03 April 2020 Updated |
Business Finland's new direct business subsidies for SMEs and midcap companies
Finland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
20 February 2023 Updated |
Subsidy for small village shops
Hungary, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
18 February 2023 Updated |
New loan scheme to help businesses impacted by war in Ukraine
Ireland, Other initiatives or policies |
05 February 2021 |
Chandris Hotels: Complete crisis-handling business plan
Greece, Company practices |
30 January 2023 |
Direct loans to businesses affected by the war
Lithuania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
10 January 2022 |
Pool for discarded perishable items
Denmark, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Employment protection and retention |
|
10 October 2020 |
Reimbursement of the monthly crisis allowance for people with disabilities working in social enterprises
Slovenia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
01 October 2020 |
Time credit for employees of companies in difficulty and/or restructuring due to COVID-19
Belgium, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
01 October 2020 |
Collective working time reduction for companies in difficulties
Belgium, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
15 September 2020 Updated |
Extension of temporary unemployment due to force majeure for specific sectors and companies in trouble
Belgium, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
06 September 2022 |
Financial support for workers affected by sanctions
Poland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
07 August 2020 |
Collective agreement: Air Malta cabin crew
Malta, Bipartite collective agreements |
16 May 2021 Updated |
Exceptional assistance to cover up to ten days of paid leave
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
03 April 2020 Updated |
COVID-19 wage supplement
Malta, Tripartite agreements |
Reorientation of business activities |
|
09 December 2020 |
Crafts beer producer Labietis changes distribution channels
Latvia, Company practices |
01 December 2020 |
Host: Digital service as response to COVID-19 restrictions
Portugal, Company practices |
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 |
23 June 2022 |
SOWACCESS (Walloon company of merger/acquisition and closure/bankruptcy)
Belgium, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
13 April 2020 |
Good practice: Snowblowers to blow disinfectants
Austria, Company practices |
06 February 2021 |
LARIPLAST S.A.: Reorientation of production due the COVID-19 pandemic
Greece, Company practices |
Protection of workers, adaptation of workplace |
|
22 December 2020 Updated |
Gozo Telework Scheme
Malta, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
01 December 2020 |
Go4All - collaborative platform for remote working
Portugal, Company practices |
14 November 2020 |
Staggered work schedule for companies who can't apply telework
Romania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
12 October 2020 Updated |
Staggered working times - exceptional and transitory regime
Portugal, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
27 September 2020 |
Improving safety at the workplace
Romania, Other initiatives or policies |
17 September 2020 |
Practical support for employers and employee representatives to ensure a healthy working life
Sweden, Other initiatives or policies |
23 June 2022 Updated |
SME Digital 3.1
Austria, Other initiatives or policies |
07 May 2020 Updated |
Office allowance for teleworkers
Belgium, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
14 April 2020 |
Emergency measures to speed temporary layoffs and short time work schemes for cooperatives
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Income protection beyond short-time work |
|
05 April 2020 Updated |
Compensation bonus for self-employed and certain shareholders
Czechia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Measures to prevent social hardship |
|
13 October 2021 |
Meticulous audits of anti-crisis shield
Poland, Other initiatives or policies |
13 July 2020 Updated |
Banking moratoriums
Portugal, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
22 June 2023 |
€50 million funding for communities hosting Ukrainian refugees
Ireland, Other initiatives or policies |
20 May 2022 Updated |
Compensations for providing housing to Ukrainian citizens free of charge
Lithuania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery |
|
30 November 2020 |
Special vocational educational scheme for the unemployed in public and broader public sector and NGOs
Cyprus, Other initiatives or policies |
12 October 2020 |
Government announces extra funds for carers and people with disabilities
Ireland, Other initiatives or policies |
03 July 2023 |
Subsidising work in Western Macedonia and the Peloponnese
Greece, Other initiatives or policies |
23 June 2022 |
Sectoral training and development funds
Netherlands, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
20 May 2022 |
Disability compensation grants extended to Ukrainian refugees
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
19 April 2021 |
Support measures within the scope of the COVID-19 pandemic
Portugal, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
01 March 2023 |
Switch to Sweden: matching international talent
Sweden, Other initiatives or policies |
23 February 2023 |
Work Foundation in the environmental field
Austria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
03 February 2021 |
AVAST: Changes in working hours and employee involvement
Czechia, Company practices |
14 January 2022 |
New annual grant for apprenticeship employers
Ireland, Other initiatives or policies |
Responses to inflation |
|
07 September 2022 Updated |
Electricity support scheme for sports teams and voluntary organisations
Norway, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
29 August 2022 Updated |
Utility price cap for microcompanies
Hungary, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
07 June 2023 |
Energy subsidies for public administration and churches
Slovakia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
30 May 2023 |
Energy bill compensation for civil organisations
Hungary, Other initiatives or policies |
20 May 2022 Updated |
Subsidy for companies that are large consumers of gas and electricity
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
18 May 2022 |
Obligation to declare stocks of basic goods to avoid profiteering
Greece, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
06 April 2023 |
Support for energy-intensive manufacturing companies
Latvia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
19 February 2023 |
State aid to reduce energy bills for businesses
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
16 February 2023 |
Extraordinary support scheme for costs incurred in agricultural production
Portugal, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
15 February 2023 |
Support to the social sector
Portugal, 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.