Brussels – The protection of 4.3 million Ukrainian refugees in Europe is now at a crossroads, between the need to provide continuity and the need to prepare for a different future. After more than three years of war in Ukraine, the European Commission proposes extending temporary protection for another year, maintaining the same rights, while simultaneously launching a plan for a gradual transition to more durable forms of support or a safe return to Ukraine.
Upon the outbreak of the conflict, the European Union reacted immediately, activating as early as March 2022 the exceptional measure that allowed Ukrainians who had fled the war to have immediate access to rights such as residence, work, social welfare, and healthcare in all member states. It then extended it, every year, as the war continued. Today (4 June), the Commission is proposing to extend this protection until March 2027, thereby ensuring stability for those forced to live far from home. “Our solidarity with Ukraine and its citizens remains steadfast,” said Ursula von der Leyen, President of the Commission: “We will continue to offer protection to those fleeing war and, at the same time, prepare the conditions for a future in which safe and dignified return will be possible.”
The extension of temporary protection is accompanied by a broader strategy that considers long-term needs. Indeed, the Commission calls on Member States to coordinate to facilitate a gradual transition to other forms of legal status, such as work or study permits, for those who have begun to integrate into host countries. This approach aims to alleviate insecurity and fragmentation by providing refugees with more stable prospects. At the same time, the idea of programmes promoting voluntary and safe return to Ukraine, in close cooperation with local authorities, is promoted. It is envisaged that refugees will be able to make exploratory visits to the country to assess the actual conditions, while support centres, called Unity Hubs, will be established to provide information and assistance to both those who remain in Europe and those who choose to return. Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Technology Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, explained that “extending temporary protection is a signal of European solidarity and commitment. However, it is equally important to prepare a coordinated management of the next phase, between returns and integration”.
The Commissioner for Home Affairs, Magnus Brunner, recalled how millions of Ukrainians have found refuge and opportunities in the EU in recent years, and emphasised the importance of offering them the possibilities to rebuild their country once they have achieved lasting stability. To avoid imbalances, the Commission recommends better refugee sharing and the elimination of double residence permits. This will help manage flows more effectively and offer more coordinated responses. Voluntary return programmes are designed to ensure that return is safe and dignified, with special attention to vulnerable groups and families. The ‘Unity Hubs’ will serve as essential points of reference in Berlin, Prague, and Alicante, where refugees can receive support for both their life in Europe and their return to Ukraine. The European Union is also committed to maintaining open communication and data exchange channels between Member States and Ukraine through dedicated platforms, ensuring continuous monitoring of the situation and the ability to adapt the response to developments on the ground.
For Kyiv, return is not only a symbolic issue, but an economic necessity. The Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister, Oleksandr Chernyshev, spoke clearly about the need for structured programmes to encourage voluntary and sustainable return, ensuring practical support and information on services available back home, from school to work. “We need our citizens to rebuild the economy,” Chernyshev said, adding that Ukraine will need at least four more million people in the labour market to double its GDP in the ten years after the end of the war.
The ball is now in the Council’s court, which will have to formally approve the extension proposal and the guidelines for the coordinated management of the protection and future of Ukrainian refugees in Europe.
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
