Social Policies Implemented In European Union During Covid-19 Pandemic

The health crisis has exacerbated the social problems faced by the Member States of the European Union, with government support programs designed to protect vulnerable groups, preventing the worsening of labour market imbalances. In this article we intend to present the impact of the health crisis on the labour market, focusing on the evolution of the unemployment rate, the number of active people and the number of hours actually worked. We will also analyse the main policies and social instruments adopted during the pandemic, aimed to ensure societal resilience to the challenges confronting EU states. Short-time working schemes, financed through the SURE instrument (European Instrument for Temporary Support for Mitigation of Unemployment Risks in an Emergency) have contributed to preserving jobs. The debate on the instruments implemented in the health crisis is part of a broader analysis, which concerns the efficiency of European social protection mechanisms and also the possibility to take the necessary steps towards the implementation of a Social Union, which would ensure more stability and social convergence.