Health, labour and social cohesion: impact of the pandemic in the European Union

Abstract

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures implemented to contain its spread in the European Union have brought about unprecedented economic disruptions and are testing the foundations of social cohesion. Their most immediate and certain effects are felt on the Europeans´ health and on the Member States´ health systems, as well as on their labour markets and employment levels. In the long term, they could erode real convergence and widen existing social gaps. In this context, EU institutions have the opportunity to strengthen their social legitimacy and the solidarity principle inherent to the European integration.

Keywords:

COVID-19, health system, social protection, unemployment, social gaps, convergence