The European Union plans to stop protecting Ukrainian refugees: what is known about the preparation of national plans
фото: REUTERS
The European Union plans to stop providing temporary protection to refugees from Ukraine from March 2027. Then, the fate of almost five thousand Ukrainians will be decided by individual states at the national level.
This is stated in the material of “Radio Liberty”.
Thus, from 2027, the bloc’s member countries will decide for themselves whether to grant residence permits to Ukrainians.
The EU proposed including beneficiaries of temporary protection in negotiations on the long-term residence directive, but they failed.
“The negotiations have reached an impasse. So, we currently have no decision on including Ukrainians in the long-term residence permit directive,” said Nasira Bouleguat, a representative of the European Commission’s migration department.
Instead, Ylva Johansson, the Special Representative for Ukrainians, is liaising with European states to ensure that national approaches do not radically differ and do not provoke internal migration.
Currently, Poland already recommends issuing a three-year residence permit for those who have been under temporary protection for a year.
The Czech Republic also offers refugees from Ukraine the opportunity to change their status. However, the offer is only available to highly qualified workers. However, Radio Liberty emphasizes that “the question of what awaits middle-level workers remains open.”
Following Poland and the Czech Republic, the German authorities are also considering a plan of action after the EU’s protection is withdrawn.
“We are now considering options for how employed people could remain in Germany, especially if they are not highly qualified workers,” said Hans-Ulrich Benra, head of the Working Group on Ukraine at the German Federal Ministry of the Interior.
At the same time, according to Ylva Johansson, vulnerable groups such as pensioners, people with disabilities, and the sick should enjoy benefits similar to those under temporary protection, and European countries have agreed to this.
Earlier, Polish President Karol Nawrocki signed a law extending the legal stay of Ukrainian citizens in the country until March 4, 2026.
By the way, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Iryna Vereshchuk stated that Ukraine should prepare a social support system for refugees who plan to return from abroad.