The Interior Ministers of the European Union have formally approved this Friday a New extension for the temporal protection of Ukrainian refugees, extending it until March 2027. This decision aims to continue providing support for those displaced by the Russian invasion. At the same time, they explore ways to facilitate your return to Ukraine Once the conflict ends.
“Today we extend the protection of Ukrainian citizens, but we also talked about how to advance, about a ‘Roadmap’why Ukrainians, of course, desperately need their population to rebuild the country“The EU interior commissioner and migration said, Magnus Brunnerahis arrival at the meeting of ministers in Luxembourg.
In this context, Brussels has begun to delineate the first ideas to travel from the emergency regime to a permanent framework that combines measures to guarantee the integration of refugees and options for those who wish to return to Ukraine.
The plan proposes the creation of “hubs” in various European capitalswhere refugees can receive advice on their return, check the status of their properties or assess their permanence in the EU.
“It is very important to give these people clarity about their life and security plan”
The vice prime minister of Ukraine and Minister of National Unity, Oleksiy Chernyshovhighlighted the importance of this measure at a working breakfast with European ministers: “It is very important to give these people clarity about their life plan and their security”. He has also shown his Thanks for the extensiondescribing it as “Important and timely decision”.
The Ukrainian minister has underlined the serious situation In your country due to Continuous Moscow attacks against civil infrastructureand has stressed the need to maintain international unity. “The situation is very dramatic and We must stay together With the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan. Russia only understands a language, the language of force“He said.
About five million refugees in Europe
From the beginning of the Russian invasion in March 2022, Almost 4.3 million Ukrainians have sought refuge in the EU. According to Eurostat, Germany houses 27.8% of them, with approximately 1.2 million refugees, while Poland hosts 23.4% (almost one million) and the Czech Republic at 8.6% (365,055).
At the moment, Around five million Ukrainians are displaced in the EU under the temporary protection regimethat allows them to reside, work and study in any member country without requesting asylum. This provisional mechanism has been extended annually as the conditions for safe return to Ukraine are not yet given.
The Spanish Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaskahighlighted the “Permanent solidarity” of the EU with Ukraine and has defended the extension as an answer to the continuation of the war. “This strategy must always guarantee the desire of the Ukrainians, be it the return or permanence in the EU countries”he added.
For his part, the Polish Minister of Interior, Tomasz Siemoniakwho presides over the EU council at this stage, has reaffirmed the EU commitment: “While Russia continues to terrorize the Ukrainian civilian population with indiscriminate air attacks, the EU continues to show its solidarity with the Ukrainian people.”
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