The EU may extend temporary protection for Ukrainians, but in a different format

The EU is preparing to discuss the future of temporary protection for Ukrainians and has not ruled out another extension. Find out why the current model might be changed, what “residual status” means, and what Ukrainians can expect in EU countries

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The European Union will soon revisit the issue of future temporary protection for Ukrainians. However, this time the discussion will focus not only on a possible extension of the current mechanism but also on potential changes to it. euractiv.com reports on this.

What exactly will be discussed in the EU?

At the technical level, a meeting of European diplomats and officials is planned, during which they will consider the possibility of another extension of temporary protection for Ukrainians.

However, the discussion is already moving beyond the simple question of “whether to extend or not.” There is growing talk within the EU that the current model could be changed, and the protection itself transformed into a new format.

Why has the EU started talking about new rules?

Last year, member states agreed on a recommendation to gradually phase out the temporary protection mechanism through the so-called coordinated transition of Ukrainians to more stable legal statuses. Specifically, this refers to:

● work-related residence permits;

● statuses tied to education;

● long-term forms of legal residence;

● support for voluntary return to Ukraine when conditions permit.

However, in practice, this transition is proceeding slowly and unevenly.

Why aren’t Ukrainians transitioning en masse to other statuses?

An internal EU document notes that the number of transitions to other legal statuses remains low. In addition, opportunities for obtaining a new status vary greatly depending on the country.

Some countries have already begun to establish mechanisms for transitioning from temporary protection to other forms of residence. But many countries do not yet have a clear procedure for action after the current model ends. It is precisely this unevenness that has become one of the main reasons for the new phase of discussions.

If you are planning to move to another EU country, change your status, or travel abroad, it is worth taking care of health insurance in advance. A policy for travel abroad on Visit Ukraine will help cover costs in case of emergency care and avoid additional financial risks while staying outside Ukraine.

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What extension format is currently considered most likely?

Among the options currently under discussion is not simply extending temporary protection in its current form, but transforming it into a more limited format. Specifically, this refers to a possible “residual status”—a social protection mechanism for those Ukrainians who:

● belong to the most vulnerable categories;

● are not yet able to transition to another type of residence;

● objectively require further protection.

In other words, in the event of a new extension, the rules may become more narrowly defined and may not cover everyone in the same format as they do now.

Who will make the decision—the EU or individual states?

Another question that remains open is at what level the decision should be made. There is currently a discussion within the EU about whether the future approach should be centralized—that is, uniform for all member states—or whether states will be allowed to independently determine the mechanisms for legalizing the stay of Ukrainians after the current system expires.

This means that even with a common political decision, the practical rules may vary from country to country.

What has the European Commission said so far?

The European Commission’s Special Envoy for Ukrainians previously stated that five years of temporary protection is sufficient, and even in the event of a prolonged war, a different approach is needed. According to her, if there is an extension, it must have new parameters—both in terms of duration and content.

There is no final decision yet. But the very fact of this new discussion means that the EU is seeking a model for the period after the current approach ends.

We remind you! Ukrainians in the EU face risks when transitioning from temporary protection to a residence permit. Read about which mistakes most often lead to a loss of time or status and how to properly prepare for the change in documents.

Photo: chernikovatv / Freepik

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