The European Commission has backed the initiative to prolong temporary protection for Ukrainian citizens who were forced to flee their country due to Russia’s full-scale invasion. The protection will remain in effect at least until March 4, 2027, reports the Baltimore Chronicle with reference to Deutsche Welle.
This legal mechanism allows Ukrainians to legally remain in the European Union and ensures access to the labor market, education, healthcare, and social welfare. Temporary protection was introduced on March 4, 2022, and has already been automatically extended twice—until March 2024 and then to March 2025. The initiative is expected to receive support from all EU member states.
According to the European Commission, the extension of temporary protection is necessary because returning to Ukraine remains unsafe. Under current rules, the maximum duration of this mechanism is three years. However, the Commission intends to amend the directive to expand it to five years.
The decision approved by the European Commission will be reviewed by the EU Council in the near future. If adopted, the extension will take effect automatically, without requiring Ukrainians who already hold protected status to re-register.
As of May 2025, approximately 4.2 million Ukrainian citizens have received temporary protection in the EU under this mechanism. The largest numbers of registered individuals are in Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic.
Earlier we wrote that European Commission urges Hungary to scrap foreign agent bill.