COVID-19 Shock: EU Member’s Social Policy

Abstract

The article analyzes social policies implemented by the European Union member states during the initial period of the coronavirus pandemic. Despite the fact that the whole region faced the same universal threat, the supranational level of decision-making and implementation was practically paralyzed in the European Union at this period. Each member state of the EU had to transform social policies in an attempt to combat spread of the pandemic and mitigate its consequences. Nevertheless, exclusions of essential civil and human rights made to strengthen anti-COVID measures turned out to be major fault lines in the relationship between society and governments.It became evident that the main attention of the state authorities was paid to measures in the field of social (physical) distancing, restrictions in the activities of educational establishments, ensuring access to health services, providing assistance to socially vulnerable groups of the population, including the elderly, the disabled, and the homeless. The authors explore different approaches implemented throughout EU to tackle social and medicalissues created by coronavirus.The main obstacles such as lack of essential resources, including the necessary medical equipment and their causes are highlighted. It is concluded that the European Union member states have not found an optimal response in the social field when they confronted the challenge of the coronavirus pandemic.