On Tuesday in Brussels, it was proposed to extend the protection status for refugees from Ukraine until March 2026. Find out more about the proposal and when the EU Council will meet to ensure stability for almost 4.2 million Ukrainians

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The European Commission has proposed to extend temporary protection for people fleeing russian aggression against Ukraine for another year, from March 5, 2025, to March 4, 2026. This decision is due to the continuation of russian attacks on civilian and critical infrastructure in Ukraine, and thus the lack of safe conditions for people to return to the country. This was reported by the press service of the European Commission on Tuesday, June 11. 

Reasons and objectives for the extension of temporary protection

The main purpose of the extension of temporary protection is to ensure stability and security for almost 4.2 million Ukrainians who already enjoy this status in the EU. The Temporary Protection Directive provides Ukrainians with the right to reside, access to the labor market, housing, social, medical and other assistance.  The EU activated the Temporary Protection Directive on March 4, 2022, and it was automatically extended for one year and then extended again until March 4, 2025.

The legal basis for the European Commission's proposal is Article 4(2) of the Temporary Protection Directive, which allows the Council, on the basis of a proposal from the Commission, to extend protection for up to one year. The EU Migration and Crisis Preparedness Plan Network and the Ukraine Solidarity Platform will continue their activities to provide general situational awareness of the migration implications of russia's invasion of Ukraine.

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Consideration and adoption of the proposal

The Commission will present the proposal to ministers at a meeting of the EU Council on Justice and Home Affairs on June 13. After that, the Council will start considering and formally adopting the proposal.

European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson emphasized that the EU will provide protection to people from Ukraine “as long as it takes”. She expressed confidence that member states would quickly agree to the extension.

It is noted that the Commission will continue to closely monitor the impact of the entries on the capacity of member states to accept them. It is important to continue working to ensure a greater balance in the efforts made by member states to support Ukrainians who have found temporary asylum in the EU.

You can get help with entry, temporary protection, and other ways of legalization and stay in the EU on the Visit Ukraine portal. Our lawyers will answer all your questions and, if necessary, help you collect, submit and receive the documents you need. To order a specialist consultation or full legal support, please follow this link.

We remind you! Poland has approved amendments to the law on assistance to refugees from Ukraine. Among other things, they provide for changes in the rules for extending temporary protection. Read what rules will apply and how Ukrainians can extend their protection and stay in Poland in our previous article.

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

Ihor Usyk is the Head of Legal Department at Visit Ukraine

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