European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen proposed today to extend the protection granted to Ukrainian refugees in the European Union (EU), but with restrictions to avoid depriving Ukraine of fighters in its war against Russia.
"We offer protection to Ukrainians for as long as necessary, while supporting Ukraine in its determination to defend itself against Russian aggression," she wrote to EU member states in a letter on immigration.
The Commission will therefore propose to extend the temporary protection granted to people fleeing the war in Ukraine, while "limiting its scope to ensure that a further extension does not undermine Ukraine's legitimate capacity to defend itself," she added in the letter, sent ahead of a European summit in Brussels.
The measure could include excluding men of conscription age or those who have illegally left Ukraine from that protective status.
Since March 2022, Ukrainians fleeing the conflict with Russia have benefited from a unique status that allows them to reside, work, and access assistance within the EU.
There are currently approximately 4,3 million of them in this situation, mostly residing in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic.
This status must be renewed every year and is currently valid until March 2027.
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