EU PolicyWatch

Background

Following the spread of the Coronavirus and surge in cases of COVID-19 infection, the Corona crisis hit societies and economies worldwide suddenly and unexpectedly in early 2020. To address the pandemic, European governments have started to take - one after the other following the Chinese path - emergency measures tackling health issues, as well as some of the immediate economic consequences. European institutions have intervened according to their field of competence, taking and discussing economic measures, while health remains a national domain. In order to slow the spread of infection, most countries have implemented regulations or at least recommendations, to apply ‘social distancing’. 

This had an immediate impact on businesses with a high direct face-to-face or client contacts (i.e. personal services). Progressively other business activities also have been forced to shut down or re-orient their working arrangements, so as to contain the spread of the virus. Consequently, a growing number of businesses are coming under threat, putting the jobs of more and more workers at risk. Already across Europe, many companies in sectors with a high volume of client and face-to-face contacts have temporarily closed or reduced their scale of operations substantially, and many jobs in the real economy have been already lost. But also 'downstream' companies, i.e. suppliers, have felt the impact quickly. Impacts on the whole economy have already been significant, as companies face increasing financial difficulties, as sales decline and prospects for a quick recovery recede. The duration of the measures is not known to date (will it be weeks or months?), creating further uncertainty.

Impacts on workers are also important. Many have lost their jobs, while others were asked to take paid or unpaid leave. Where possible, companies quickly resorted to telework for a substantial number of their workforce, as recommended or regulated by governments.

Moreover, aggravated constraints weigh on working parents, due to the closure of schools, kindergartens and creches, combined with the recommendation or even prohibition not to rely on grandparents help, as they are the group most at risk. Several countries have (at this stage) closed their borders for person movement, while the movement of goods remains a priority to secure. This immediate disruption created specific problems for the cross-border workforce (e.g. daily commuters, cross-border care-workers) – both as regards peoples’ endeavours to go to their home country, but also to be able to go back to work. Businesses (and households) in border regions relying on a higher number of cross-national commuters are particularly affected. Also, sectors relying on a seasonal workforce from other countries (in particular agriculture) are anticipating difficulties at this stage. The large disruption in supply chains, work-arrangements, sudden decline of revenue due to the 'stay at home' order has put Europe into an emergency mode. 

Health services have become the key sector of public interest and ensuring that health care workers within these services can fulfil their role in saving as many lives as possible, the key priority. However, in many countries, the healthcare sector has been under strain for a while, particularly with regard to reduction of expenses (outcomes of the 2008 financial crisis) and labour shortages. 

Countries are therefore focusing on recruiting an additional trained workforce (e.g. retirees), but also other workers with some experience in the care sector, so as to free the key staff for the most immediate medical needs to deal with the seriously ill patients. Finally, other sectors or business activities are regarded as particularly ‘essential’ as well, such as the  transport of goods and services, especially across borders; utilities and energy supply; ICT infrastructure; commerce sector and logistics; agriculture. Minimising the disruptions to these services is a key concern, and related labour market measures to ensure that the required workforce is available, are also of interest in this regard.
 

Update requirements

Mapping the first policy measures that governments, social partners or other actors (for example: chambers of commerce, local communities, NGOs) have set to deal with the immediate effects of the crisis on workers, businesses and citizens.

Primary interest: policy measures aimed at cushioning the social and economic impacts of the Corona crisis, in the form of:

• Legislation or similar regulations.
• Collective agreements (priority).
• Other initiatives.
• Also examples of interesting and selected company cases can be included.

Another dimension for prioritisation is the ‘volume’ or coverage of the policy measures; those related to a larger number of workers or economic activities should be prioritised. (For example, a major cross-sectoral agreement over detailed legislation addressed to specific activities).
 

Outside the scope

Not in the scope are:

• The public health measures per se (i.e. school closures, restrictions to go outside, prohibitions that grandparents can mind children, prohibition to use public transport, etc.);
• Measures concerning the transport workers in EU transport;
• Regulations limiting the inter-EU and international movement restrictions of citizens and workers per se;
• Measures taken to limit the effects of international movement restrictions on cross-border workers (these will be monitored by the European Commission);
• Company cases of restructuring due to the Corona crisis (they will be captured in Eurofound’s ERM events database);
• Debates about introducing measures are not of relevance, unless the likelihood of them being passed is high and the legislative (or other process) is advanced;
• Any cases which are an impact of the pandemic situation on working life (e.g.: postponement of collective bargaining rounds or social elections; increase of unemployment).

Cases related to the financing of measures (rather than the measure itself); e.g. ‘a certain fund will be used’ is not a case in itself; the measure itself is the case (‘what is the money being spent on?’).

Background

No change in background.
 

Update requirements

New cases focus on and priorities:

• Measures that promote the economic and social recovery and help businesses return back to normal;
• Cases related to the SURE programme with EU funding;
• Policy cases which promote ‘a green’ recovery;
• Policy cases which help to advance the digital agenda;
• Policy cases which promote youth employment.

The most important/substantial schemes, for example: short-time work, direct support for businesses, support for parents and carers, larger active labour market schemes, should be prioritised.

Required updates:

• Core measures to support people’s incomes and companies’ further existence;
• Figures and evaluation studies on the use and effectiveness of existing measures.

Provision of further information on social partners views and (further) involvement, as it becomes available.

Background

No change in background.
 

Update requirements

New cases focus on and priorities:

• Measures that promote the economic and social recovery and help businesses return back to normal;
• Cases related to the SURE programme with EU funding;
• Policy cases which promote a 'green’ recovery;
• Policy cases which help to advance the digital agenda;
• Policy cases which promote youth employment.

The most important/substantial schemes, for example: short-time work, direct support for businesses, support for parents and carers, larger active labour market schemes, should be prioritised.

Required updates:

• The priority is to keep the oldest cases in the database up-to-date for each country;
• Other substantial measures if an important update has become available.

Background

No change in background.
 

Update requirements

New cases focus on and priorities:

• Measures that promote the economic and social recovery and help businesses return back to normal;
• Policy cases which promote a ‘green’ recovery, or
• Other reintegration and recovery measures.

Required updates:

• Core measures to support people’s incomes and companies’ further existence;
• Figures and evaluation studies on the use and effectiveness of existing measures.

Provision of further information on social partners views and (further) involvement, as it becomes available.

Background

The war in Ukraine has unleashed a humanitarian emergency in Europe. As of April 2022, over 4.3 million refugees from Ukraine – mainly women and children – have fled to other countries to seek shelter and safety. The countries neighbouring Ukraine (both EU and non-EU Member States) are most affected. In the meantime, the EU has reacted quickly and activated the Temporary Protection directive, which has been designed to deal with such mass influxes of refugees. It provides for a number of rights for refugees without having to go through lengthy procedures for the application for asylum. Beneficiaries of temporary protection get (among other rights) a residence permit of one to three years, access to housing, medical care, social benefits, education for those under 18 years of age and the possibility of free movement between EU countries under certain conditions.

Various actors in Member States – governments, NGOs, the social partners - have started to respond to this great influx, by issuing new initiatives and policies. In Eurofound’s field of interest this could include the provision of housing, the opening of new school classes, the creation of work-related matching platforms, offering active labour market programmes targeted at refugees, etc.

Another impact of the war relates to the disruption of supply chains (as a result of sanctions imposed on Russia and Belarus) or the stop of production in and exports from Ukraine. This compounds the already high inflation witnessed as a result of strained supply chains caused by the pandemic. 

Businesses, citizens and workers in the EU are faced with soaring energy prices including petrol, and increasing food prices. Together with pressures on already strained housing markets, this creates a substantial threat to people’s purchasing power and standard of living, but also to companies’ viability. 

The database will, therefore, seek to map policies (including collective agreements, company cases or other initiatives) aimed at addressing and cushioning the impacts of this new crisis on EU companies, workers and citizens. EU PolicyWatch database potential cases could include, for instance: 

• the setting up of price control committees with social partner support;
• the take up of aspects related to the crisis in collective bargaining as a response;
• support for companies with a large decline in trade volume; 
• fiscal policies to cushion the price of energy costs; 
• the update of short-time working schemes to the new context, 
• heating costs support for the most vulnerable, etc.
   

Update requirements

Focus:

• Direct support for refugees (housing, schooling and childcare, psychological support, etc.);
• Active labour market policies, specifically aimed at refugees;
• Support for companies hit by economic restrictions or changes in supply chains;
• Support for workers/citizens to deal with increased energy or food prices.

Correspondents are asked to identify such measures introduced by governments, social partners, companies and other organisations, based on legislation, collective agreements or any other type of initiative.

Priorities:

Priority should be given to larger scale and nation-wide policies, though also innovative smaller scale, regional or company measures can be included. Also the focus of Eurofound’s areas of expertise should be kept in mind when selecting the cases: Working conditions, Employment, Industrial Relations and Living Conditions. 

Out of scope are for instance measures aimed at easing border controls or regulating the residency status of refugees.

Updates:

While the main focus and priority is on responses to the impacts of the war in Ukraine, correspondents are also asked to 'keep an eye' on the most important COVID-19 related policy measures. This would include mainly the short-time working schemes – which are likely to be amended in the new crisis context anyway, but also other nation-wide large scale stimulus or recovery packages.

Background

War in Ukraine and support for refugees

The war in Ukraine has unleashed a humanitarian emergency in Europe. As of April 2022, over 4.3 million refugees from Ukraine – mainly women and children – have fled to other countries to seek shelter and safety. The countries neighbouring Ukraine (both EU and non-EU Member States) are most affected. In the meantime, the EU has reacted quickly and activated the Temporary Protection directive, which has been designed to deal with such mass influxes of refugees. It provides for a number of rights for refugees without having to go through lengthy procedures for the application for asylum. Beneficiaries of temporary protection get (among other rights) a residence permit of one to three years, access to housing, medical care, social benefits, education for those under 18 years of age and the possibility of free movement between EU countries under certain conditions.

Various actors in Member States – governments, NGOs, the social partners - have started to respond to this great influx, by issuing new initiatives and policies. In Eurofound’s field of interest this could include:

• the provision of housing, 
• the opening of new school classes, 
• the creation of work-related matching platforms, 
• offering active labour market programmes targeted at refugees, and 
• how their rights on access to the labour market, health and social protection are implemented by the member states, etc.

Responses to inflation, disruptions in supply chains and the energy crisis

Another impact of the war relates to the disruption of supply chains (as a result of sanctions imposed on Russia and Belarus) or the stop of production in and exports from Ukraine, including impacts on the provision of energy. This compounds the already high inflation witnessed as a result of strained supply chains caused by the pandemic. Businesses, citizens and workers in the EU are faced with soaring energy prices including gasoline and increasing food prices and further energy shortages are expected due to lower or stop of supply from Russian gas. Together with pressures on (already strained) housing markets, this creates a substantial threat to people’s purchasing power and standard of living, but also to companies’ viability. The database will, therefore, seek to map policies (including collective agreements, company cases or other initiatives) aimed at addressing and cushioning the impacts of this new crisis on EU companies, workers and citizens.

Potential cases could include, for instance: 

• the setting up of price control committees with social partner support, 
• the take up of aspects related to the crisis in collective bargaining as a response, 
• support for companies with a large decline in trade volume,
• fiscal policies to cushion the price of energy costs,
• the update of short-time working schemes to the new context,
• heating and fuel cost support for the most vulnerable or for all groups of workers or companies,
• measures to promote energy savings, etc.

Green transition

Within the Recovery and resilience facility (RRF, as part of the NextGeneration EU programme), Member States have drafted national RRF plans in which they outline their envisaged policies, and for which EU funding will be obtained following approval by the European Commission. About 40% of the expenses shall be related to promoting the green transition.

Update requirements

Focus:

• Support for refugees (continuation of T1 update): for the T2 update, correspondents are asked to familiarise themselves with the measures reported by other correspondents (as similar measures might be in place in their own country), and to investigate whether major new initiatives in their countries haven’t been reported yet, but could complete the data-collection.
• Responses to inflation and the disruption of supply chains and the energy crisis (continuation of T1 update): for the T2 update, correspondents are asked to familiarise themselves with the measures reported by other correspondents (as similar measures might be in place in their own country), and to investigate whether major new initiatives in their countries haven’t been reported yet, but could complete the data-collection.
• Policies supporting the green transition (light start): correspondents are asked to familiarise themselves with these plans, and to start including the most important policy measures into the database (which fall into Eurofound’s field of interest) once the legislation has been passed. Of particular interest are policy measures which relate to multiple policy contexts and address more than one policy target. For example: Policies to reduce energy consumption can be related to the war in Ukraine and its impact on prices, but can also contribute to the green transition.
• COVID-19-related measures promoting the recovery (light update, closing of cases): correspondents are also asked to “keep an eye” on the most important COVID-19 related policy measures. This would include mainly the short-time working schemes – which are likely to be amended in the new crisis context anyway; but also other nation-wide large scale stimulus or recovery packages.

Summary of expected policies for the T2 update:

Hence, the new round of updates seeks to capture support measures in reaction to the social and economic fall-out of the war, such as:

• Direct support for refugees (housing, schooling and childcare, psychological support, etc.).
• Active labour market policies, specifically aimed at refugees.
• Support for companies hit by economic restrictions or changes in supply chains.
• Support for workers/citizens to deal with increased energy or food prices.
• Policies that facilitate the green transition, targeted at businesses, workers and citizens.

Correspondents are asked to identify such measures introduced by governments, social partners, companies and other organisations, be they based on legislation, collective agreements or any other type of initiative. The identification shall be based on desk research. Potential sources include governmental websites and related government institutions, social partner website and their media, NGOs, the media, etc.

Priority should be given to larger scale and nation-wide policies, though also innovative smaller scale, regional or company measures can be included. Also the focus of Eurofound’s areas of expertise should be kept in mind when selecting the cases: Working conditions, Employment, Industrial Relations and Living EU PolicyWatch database 4 Conditions. Out of scope are for instance measures aimed at easing border controls or regulating the residency status of refugees.

Background

No change in background.

Update

The merge between the EU PolicyWatch database and the ERM support instruments database is taking place because Eurofound is transitioning to a newer website. Therefore, due to the topical proximity of the databases it has been chosen to merge them into the EU PolicyWatch. The aim is to avoid the duplication of the information across the two databases which are very close in theme and scope as well as to simplify correspondents’ work by using a single and already known tool (FileMaker).

The merge will be taking place in different stages for technical budgetary reasons, since Eurofound is not aware of how many cases will be ultimately updated or added into the database.

• Step 1: Editing of the existing cases in FileMaker. This step will be needed to review the accuracy of the bulk upload, adapt to the EU PolicyWatch format and it will help (new) correspondents to familiarise themselves with the database. The payment order for this phase is standard and depends on the number of the pre-existing cases of the ERM support instrument in the country.
• Step 2: Validation. In this phase correspondents will check if any update is needed and if any new case needs to be created. The correspondents will need to search and signal to Eurofound all possible cases. This is needed to make sure the database remains up to date and that correspondents have the chance of proposing as many cases as needed.
• Step 3: Review. Eurofound will review the proposed cases and will approve them depending on how relevant and innovative the case is, taking into consideration the overall budget available. After reviewing all cases Eurofound will send the final decision to correspondents and will make a new order to pay the updates/new cases.
• Step 4: Correspondents update and create new cases. This will be needed to make sure the database gets updated, Eurofound will check the quality according to the standard EU PolicyWatch process.

Background

Responses to inflation and the energy crisis

Households and businesses across the EU have been facing rising prices in basic goods including predominantly energy and food. The rise in the cost of living has been driven by the energy crisis and by the disruptions of supply chains as a result of sanctions imposed on Russia and Belarus, the stop of production in and exports from Ukraine, and by the strain on supply chains caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Together with pressures on already strained housing markets, this creates a substantial threat to people’s purchasing power and standard of living, but also to companies’ viability. 

The database will continue to map policies (including collective agreements, company cases or other initiatives) aimed at addressing and cushioning the impacts of this new crisis on EU companies, workers and citizens.

Green transition

Within the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) as part of the NextGeneration EU programme, Member States have drafted national RRF plans in which they outline their envisaged policies, and for which EU funding will be obtained following approval by the European Commission. About 40% of the expenses shall be related to promoting the green transition.

Update requirements

Responses to inflation (continuation of T1 and T2 update):

Potential cases could include, for instance: the setting up of price control committees with social partner support, the take up of aspects related to the crisis in collective bargaining as a response [provided agreements were reached], support for companies with a large decline in trade volume; fiscal policies to cushion the price of energy costs; the update of short-time working schemes to the new context; heating and fuel cost support for the most vulnerable or for all groups of workers or companies; measures to promote energy savings, etc.

Please make sure to include new measures to support households, including for example income support (one-time support cheque, one-off payment), reductions in VAT and energy-related taxes, increases in means-tested benefits, deferral of mortgage repayments, credit lines between the governments and consumers to allow consumers to delay the payments of their energy bills, increases of in-kind benefits, price caps. Measures to support SMEs as well as larger companies, such as reduction of taxes or subsidies.

Correspondents may also include new short-time work schemes or extensions thereof as well as other job retention schemes, as well as labour market policies that have been developed in the context of the current energy crisis, such as up- and re-skilling of the labour force as well as other active labour market policies (ALMP) measures. Please make sure to include these measures in the corresponding categories, for instance under the subcategory ‘Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.)’ under the category ‘Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery’ while selecting ‘War in Ukraine’ as context.

Socio-economic policies supporting the green transition, including green collective bargaining:

Correspondents are asked to familiarise themselves with these plans, and to include in the database the most important policy measures that fall into Eurofound’s field of interest once the legislation has been passed. Note that Eurofound’s field of interest relates to initiatives which cushion the socio-economic effects (for citizens, workers and businesses) of the green transition. General measures of a more technical nature, e.g., investments into transitioning to renewable energy sources at a large scale, are not in the scope.

Examples of larger collective agreements which support aspects of the green transition are of particular interest.

Of particular interest also are policy measures which relate to multiple policy contexts and address more than one policy target. For example: policies to reduce energy consumption can be related to the war in Ukraine and its impact on prices, but can also contribute to the green transition.

Measures to support refugees from Ukraine and COVID-19-related measures promoting the recovery:

Correspondents are also asked to keep an eye on the most important policy measures related to COVID-19 and to support refugees from Ukraine under the temporary protection directive. Correspondents should include new information on the ‘Use of measure’ and provide information on cases that have ended or have been extended. Please note that Eurofound has introduced a new variable in the database indicating whether a policy is ‘Active’ but has passed its end date, which should make the identification of cases that need to be ‘closed’ easier.

In Eurofound’s field of interest this could include continued support for labour market integration of refugees from the Ukraine, the provision of housing, the opening of new school classes, the creation of work-related matching platforms, offering active labour market programmes targeted at refugees, and how their rights on access to the labour market, health and social protection are implemented by the member states, etc.

For COVID-19 related cases, the correspondents may focus on short-time working schemes – which are likely to be amended in the new crisis context; but also other nation-wide large scale recovery packages.

Summary of expected policies for the T3 update:

Hence, the new round of updates seeks to capture support measures in reaction to the social and economic consequences of the rising inflation, and on measures to support the green transition, such as:

• Support for companies hit by economic restrictions or changes in supply chains or increased prices;
• Support for workers/citizens to deal with increased energy or food prices;
• Policies that facilitate the green transition, targeted at businesses, workers and citizens.

Correspondents are asked to identify such measures introduced by governments, social partners, companies and other organisations, be they based on legislation, collective agreements or any other type of initiative. The identification shall be based on desk research. Potential sources include governmental websites and related government institutions, social partner website and their media, NGOs, the media, etc.

Priority should be given to larger scale and nation-wide policies, though also innovative smaller scale, regional or company measures can be included. The focus of Eurofound’s areas of expertise should be kept in mind when selecting the cases: Working conditions, Employment, Industrial Relations and Living Conditions. Out of scope are for instance measures aimed at easing border controls or regulating the residency status of refugees; or measures of a more technical nature facilitating the green transition.

For both including new measures and updating existing ones, please pay particular attention to include the amount of beneficiaries (‘Use of measure’ box) as well as the overall budget (‘Content of measure’ box), even if you only have expected values, if effective ones become available they may always be included in another round updates. Be mindful about the end date and to mark measures as temporary. You could also briefly discuss the timeline of the measure in the ‘Content of measure’ box.

Background

No change in background.
 

Update requirements

For the T1 update, we propose a light update on themes covered in the previous update. 

Please add the most relevant new measures (if any), update existing measures and in particular: make sure to provide information on ‘Use of measure’ and the social partner’s views that have become available.

To refresh your memory, the themes covered in the previous update are:

• Responses to inflation with new categories created;
• Socio-economic policies supporting the green transition, including green collective bargaining;
• Measures to support refugees from Ukraine and COVID-19-related measures promoting the recovery.

Background

European action on climate change and environmental degradation dates to 1972. At a meeting held in Paris, the European Council declared the need for an environment policy. In 1973 the first Action Programme for the Environment was launched. In December 2019, the European Commission introduced the European Green Deal, this framework sets sustainability and climate-neutrality goals for Europe to achieve in the next three decades. However, COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine introduced unforeseen challenges that impacted the trajectory of the initiative. At the same time, the impacts of a changing climate are already very visible, as more frequent extreme weather events have started to become a new reality, posing challenges for policy makers to react with swift measures to ease the impact on affected businesses, workers and citizens.

The immediate reaction to cope with the impact of climate change

The summer 2023 highlighted again the fact that climate change is affecting European citizens, workers and businesses already. Extreme weather events such as wildfires, flooding, storms and heatwaves were more frequently spotted in many countries and regions. For example, the prolonged heatwave in Southern Europe, the more frequent and larger wildfires, (Greece and Portugal), the recent floodings in Slovenia and Austria, to name just a few.

Medium to long term policies for transitioning to a carbon neutral economy

The European Green Deal is composed of multiple initiatives that aim to address all sectors of the EU economy. The initiatives include REPowerEU, the Green Deal Industrial Plan, and EU action to address the energy crisis. Within these initiatives, measures fall into the following categories:

• Increasing access to funding for technologies that support sustainable development;
• Diversifying sources of energy;
• Providing education and training for workers to adapt to jobs with new technologies
• Reducing energy consumption;
• Facilitating open and fair trade;
• Ensuring energy is affordable;
• Reforming regulation to promote environmentally friendly practices.

Update requirements

Short term reaction to cushion the eff.ects of extreme weather events:

The T2 2023 update of the EUPolicy Watch database seeks to map the immediate policy responses of national and regional governments and social partners to deal with cushioning the impacts on businesses, workers and citizens. Possible EU funding of these measures should also be recorded. This could include:

• Support measures for affected businesses (e.g. providing access to short-time work, tax reductions or subsidies in case of loss of production, support for re-investment of damaged machinery or equipment and the return to production; supported insurance schemes for companies in affected areas; etc.)
• Stabilisation of supply chains (e.g. agricultural products, fertilizers, etc.)
• Deployment of workers/ support personnel where they are most needed (i.e. emergency staff, military personnel, etc.)
• Protection of workers involved in the rescue measures (e.g. psychological support, health and safety, adaptation of working time rules, etc.); or when they have to cope with extreme weather events in general (e.g. regulating work schedules during heat-waves, etc.)
• For citizens: provision of measures that help to cope with extreme weather events, e.g. ‘cooling areas’, re-housing in case homes become uninhabitable, support schemes to rebuild one's home, etc.

Medium to long-term policies to promote the green transition:

In Eurofound’s field of interest this could include the provision of energy-efficient housing, active labour market programmes targeting re-training employees to adapt to new technologies and fields of work, measures supporting the use of public transport or other more environmentally friendly and the reduction of individual commuting, measures to promote ‘greener workplaces’ in general, and other measures related to the Just Transition.

Correspondents are asked to identify such measures introduced by governments, social partners, companies and other organisations, be they based on legislation, collective agreements or any other type of initiative. The identification shall be based on desk research. Potential sources include governmental websites and related government institutions, social partner websites and their media, NGOs, the media, etc.

Update and ‘finalise’ the policy measures related to responses to inflation (in a light way, as much as is known on the use of measures, social partner involvement, etc.):

While the focus of this update of the database will be on the dual transition, correspondents are also asked to 'keep an eye' on the most important changes in measures already in the database, this includes responses to the impacts of the war in Ukraine measures. This could include new information on the evaluation of older measures or recent adaptation of more recent ones.

Background

Extreme weather events, green transition and updates

European action on climate change and environmental degradation dates to 1972. At a meeting held in Paris, the European Council declared the need for environment policy. In 1973 the first Action Programme for the Environment was launched. In December 2019, the European Commission introduced the European Green Deal, this framework sets sustainability and climate-neutrality goals for Europe to achieve in the next three decades. 

However, COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine introduced unforeseen challenges that impacted the trajectory of the initiative. At the same time, the impacts of a changing climate are already very visible, as more frequent extreme weather events have started to become a new reality, posing challenges for policy makers to react with swift measures to ease the impact on affected businesses, workers and citizens.

Medium to long term policies for transitioning to a carbon neutral economy

The European Green Deal is composed of multiple initiatives that aim to address all sectors of the EU economy. The initiatives include REPowerEU, the Green Deal Industrial Plan, and EU action to address the energy crisis. Within these initiatives, measures fall into the following categories:

• Increasing access to funding for technologies that support sustainable development;
• Diversifying sources of energy;
• Providing education and training for workers to adapt to jobs with new technologies;
• Reducing energy consumption;
• Facilitating open and fair trade;
• Ensuring energy is affordable;
• Reforming regulation to promote environmentally friendly practices.

Update requirements

Short term reaction to cushion the effects of extreme weather events:

For this update, Eurofound’s main fields of interest are:

• With priority: measures/incentives for addressing labour market shortages needs for EU Green Deal objectives in relation to energy-efficient housing;
• measures related to active labour market programmes targeting re-training employees to adapt to new less carbon-intensive technologies and fields of work;
• measures supporting the use of public transport or other more environmentally friendly means of transport and the reduction of individual commuting;
• measures to promote ‘greener workplaces’ in general, and other measures related to the Just Transition

The immediate reaction to cope with the impact of climate change:

Recent extreme weather events highlighted again the fact that climate change is affecting European citizens, workers and businesses already: events such as wildfires, flooding, storms and heatwaves were more frequently spotted in many countries and regions. For example, the prolonged heatwave in Southern Europe, the more frequent and larger wildfires, (Greece and Portugal), the recent flooding in Slovenia and Austria, to name just a few.

The T3 2023 update of the EU PolicyWatch database seeks to continue the mapping of immediate policy responses of national and regional governments and social partners to deal with cushioning the impacts on businesses, workers and citizens. Possible EU funding of these measures should also be recorded. This could include:

• Support measures for affected businesses (e.g. providing access to short-time work, tax reductions or subsidies in case of loss of production, support for re-investment of damaged machinery or equipment and the return to production; supported insurance schemes for companies in affected areas, etc.)
• Stabilisation of supply chains (e.g. agricultural products, fertilizers, etc.)
• Deployment of workers/ support personnel where they are most needed (i.e. emergency staff, military personnel, etc.)
• Protection of workers involved in the rescue measures (e.g. psychological support, health and safety, adaptation of working time rules, etc.); or when they have to cope with extreme weather events in general (e.g. regulating work schedules during heat-waves, etc.)
• For citizens: provision of measures that help to cope with extreme weather events, e.g. ‘cooling areas’, re-housing in case homes become uninhabitable, support schemes to rebuild one's home, etc.
• NOTE: Please use the new policy context 'Extreme weather events' for these measures, and all relevant categories and sub-categories.

Correspondents are asked to identify such measures introduced by governments, social partners, companies and other organisations, be they based on legislation, collective agreements or any other type of initiative.

Priority should be given to larger scale and nation-wide policies, though also innovative smaller scale, regional or company measures can be included. The focus of Eurofound’s areas of expertise should be kept in mind when selecting the cases: Working conditions, Employment, Industrial relations and Living conditions.

How to deal with existing cases?

While the focus of this update of the database will be on the green transition, correspondents are also asked to 'keep an eye' on the most important changes in measures already in the database, this includes measures in response to the impact of the war in Ukraine and the cost-of-living crisis. This could include new information on the evaluation of older measures or recent adaptation of more recent ones. Please refer to the existing documentation.

Currently on hold (June 2024).