The European Commission has proposed to extend the directive on temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees until March 4, 2028, while simultaneously limiting access to this status for some new applicants. This was announced by the European Commissioner for Migration, Magnus Brunner.
According to the proposal, temporary protection should not be granted to newly arrived Ukrainian citizens who are prohibited from leaving the country due to mobilization.
"This is what Ukraine has asked us for, and we are doing it," said Brunner. According to him, the decision takes into account Ukraine's defense needs and the necessity of its post-war recovery. The European Commission's proposal must be agreed upon by EU member states.
Ukrainians who are already under temporary protection in EU countries will retain their right to temporary protection. "This will protect families who have built lives in Europe and integrated into host societies — found jobs, contributed to the EU economy, learned the language, attended schools, or started businesses," noted Brunner. According to the European Commission, nearly 4.4 million Ukrainians have temporary protection status in the European Union.
Brussels has urged EU countries to prepare for a gradual phasing out of the temporary protection regime. The European Commission proposes to expand the possibilities for Ukrainians to transition to long-term residence permits, as well as to develop voluntary return and reintegration programs in Ukraine. Together with member states and Kyiv, a pilot program for voluntary return is planned to be launched. If the situation in Ukraine stabilizes, the European Commission reserves the right to terminate the temporary protection regime early.
Individual EU countries are already considering tightening the rules. The Danish authorities have proposed to stop granting temporary protection to Ukrainian men aged 23 to 60 who do not have military service exemptions. According to the bill, such citizens will no longer be able to obtain residence permits under the special law protecting Ukrainians. In Copenhagen, it was explained that the residence rules "should not be used to evade military service in Ukraine."
In Poland, control over the granting of temporary protection has also intensified. As reported by Wprost, Polish authorities have been more frequently denying this status. This applies to both new applicants and those who have lost their status after a long absence from Poland. According to the publication, authorities have become more thorough in checking whether a person actually left Ukraine due to the war. Germany, Austria, and Sweden have also advocated for denying temporary protection to conscripts, as reported by The Moscow Times.
