EU considers another extension of temporary protection for Ukrainians
EU countries are set to discuss whether to extend temporary protection for Ukrainians for another term, which would take the programme into its sixth year.
Source: European Pravda, citing Euractiv, a EU-focused news and analysis website
Details: Introduced in March 2022, the Temporary Protection Directive granted millions of Ukrainians access to a range of rights in the EU without overburdening asylum systems.
Initially conceived as a short-term emergency measure, the directive has been extended several times. Last year, the EU approved recommendations on how Ukrainians could exit temporary protection status.
European diplomats and officials are now expected to meet next week at a technical-level session to consider the possibility of another extension of the directive.
Last year, EU capitals agreed on recommendations for gradually phasing out the programme through a "coordinated transition" to more stable legal statuses for Ukrainians – including residence permits linked to employment, education or long-term stay, as well as assistance with voluntary return when conditions allow.
According to official data, around 4.35 million displaced Ukrainians currently benefit from temporary protection in the EU. Slightly more than a quarter are in Germany, 22.3% in Poland, and just under one in ten in Czechia.
According to a discussion document circulated ahead of next week's talks, at this stage, the number of transitions to other statuses remains very low, and opportunities to obtain alternative legal statuses for beneficiaries remain uneven across the EU.
While several member states have begun developing mechanisms for transitioning away from temporary protection, many others have yet to establish clear procedures or guidance on residence once temporary protection expires, the document states.
At present, the Temporary Protection Directive for Ukrainians in the European Union remains in force until 4 March 2027.
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