The EU has begun discussions on the future of Ukrainians after the temporary protection expires in 2027

The European Union has already begun discussing future decisions for Ukrainians after the temporary protection expires in 2027. Find out what EU countries plan to discuss, what issues remain open, and how this may affect Ukrainians in Europe

Legal assistance on migration issues for Ukrainians in Ukraine and abroad

GET

The European Union has already begun discussing further decisions regarding Ukrainians who are in EU countries under temporary protection. This concerns the period after March 2027, when the Temporary Protection Directive, which was introduced after the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, will expire.

This was announced by European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner during a press conference after a meeting of the EU Council on Home Affairs and Justice, reports Ukrinform.

The EU is preparing for the end of temporary protection

According to Magnus Brunner, EU countries have already begun discussing what the next steps might be after the temporary protection mechanism expires.

During the meeting of EU interior ministers, this issue was also discussed with Special Envoy for Ukrainians Ilva Johansson. The European Commissioner thanked her for her work and efforts to coordinate the positions of member states.

“As for further action, this is what we discussed today with our Special Envoy Ilva Johansson. I would like to thank her for her dedication and work to encourage member states to take the next steps,” Brunner said.

Why has the EU started the discussion now?

The European Commissioner recalled that in June 2025, the European Commission presented a common European approach to supporting displaced persons from Ukraine. This plan takes into account that the Temporary Protection Directive will expire in March 2027. That is why the EU is already starting discussions on future mechanisms.

“And that is ‘tomorrow’, I would say. That is why our discussion today was really important — to understand the direction in which the member states want to move,” Brunner explained.

He stressed that the current status of Ukrainians in Europe is by definition temporary, so it is necessary to prepare decisions that will work after the end of this regime.

What decisions can EU countries make?

No specific decisions have been made yet. The European Commissioner stressed that it is too early to talk about the results of the negotiations. At the same time, Brussels emphasizes that European Union countries must be ready by the beginning of 2027, when the Directive expires.

“We must be ready for the beginning of 2027, when the Temporary Protection Directive expires,” said Magnus Brunner.

At the same time, the European Commission continues to confirm its support for Ukraine. According to the European Commissioner, Brussels will continue to demonstrate its “unwavering commitment to support Ukraine for as long as necessary,” and EU member states are already doing significant work to integrate Ukrainians into their societies.

Don't want to miss important updates and useful articles? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter!

Where are Ukrainians most actively integrating into the labor market?

During his speech, Brunner also drew attention to the level of integration of Ukrainians in different EU countries. According to him, Poland has become the country where the largest number of Ukrainians have successfully integrated into the labor market.

After the start of the full-scale war, millions of Ukrainians were given the opportunity to legally work, study, and use social services in European Union countries.

Issues that remain unresolved

Despite active discussions, some legal issues remain open. In particular, during the press conference, journalists asked the European Commissioner about the situation with children born in EU countries to Ukrainian migrant families.

In some cases, such children were denied temporary protection because they were not physically present in Ukraine after the start of the full-scale invasion, which is formally one of the conditions for obtaining such status. Magnus Brunner did not provide a specific answer regarding possible solutions to this problem.

Although temporary protection will remain in effect until 2027, the question of the future legal status of Ukrainians in Europe is already becoming relevant. The legal nuances of legalization may vary depending on the country of residence, so in complex situations, it is worth seeking professional help. For example, migration lawyers at Visit Ukraine help Ukrainians understand the rules of residence, document processing, status renewal, or obtaining other forms of legal residence in European countries.

We remind you! In 2026, 5.6 million Ukrainians will be living far from home. While the older generation is gradually returning to their homeland, young people from large cities continue to settle in Germany and Poland. Read how many refugees are actually planning to return to Ukraine.

Photo: brikasimf / Freepik

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

Our recommendation for a safe and comfortable trip: 

Visit Ukraine Insurance - insurance for a safe stay abroad without unnecessary expenses;

Green Card - compulsory car insurance for traveling abroad;

Visit Ukraine Tickets - book tickets for buses, trains, and airplanes to/from Ukraine and between cities around the world;

Private Lawyer service - professional legal support on visa and migration issues;

Visit Ukraine Merch - buy patriotic clothing and accessories with worldwide delivery.

© 2018-2026, Visit Ukraine. Use, copying or reprinting of materials on this site is permitted only with a link (hyperlink for online publications) to Visit Ukraine.

All rights reserved.