Temporary EU protection: extended until 2028 for 4.4 million Ukrainians

And since “the war continues – he continues – our support must obviously continue, and this is why we present the proposal to extend the temporary protection for a further year. The current temporary protection regime will expire in March 2027, i.e. tomorrow. We must guarantee continuity, clarity and stability, and therefore we propose to extend the temporary protection until 4 March 2028”.

“This – he continues – it will protect families who have built a life for themselves in Europe and integrated into host societies, finding work, contributing to the EU economy, learning the language, attending school, starting businesses, and so on.”

At the same time, Brunner continues, “our proposal takes into account the ever-changing defense and recovery needs of Ukraine. The needs and the issue have been discussed extensively with our Ukrainian friends and, of course, with our Member States. To keep the protection framework credible and align it with Ukraine’s legitimate needs, we propose a targeted adjustment”.

The proposal to the Council “provides that temporary protection will not be granted to newly arrived persons who are not allowed to leave Ukraine due to their military obligations under Ukrainian law. This is what Ukraine has asked us to do, and this is what we are doing, and it also reflects the discussions we have had with Member States, in particular those hosting the largest number of Ukrainian refugees.”

This proposal, continues Brunner, “is also part of a broader and gradual transition from an emergency protection framework to more stable legal solutions for Ukrainian refugees in the European Union. We started this discussion already last year, on the basis of a proposal from the Commission”.

The Council, recalls Brunner, “adopted a recommendation on a gradual transition to other statuses and on sustainable repatriation and reintegration in Ukraine, when conditions allow. Member States have made progress in this direction and this must continue to be a priority, in parallel with the granting of temporary protection”.

The recommendation, he notes, “is also clear regarding our support for Ukraine for its reconstruction and recovery. Ukraine’s future depends, of course, not only on funding, but also on its people, and that is why today we are also launching a voluntary repatriation and recovery pilot programme, to support those who wish to return today and prepare to return as soon as the situation allows.”

The main objective of EU support for Ukraine “remains the same: to ensure certainty today, prepare responsibly for tomorrow and continue to stand by Ukraine and its people”, concludes Brunner.