EU Council extends temporary protection for Ukrainians
26 June 2024 09:19
The Council of the European Union has decided to extend temporary protection for more than four million Ukrainians until 4 March 2026. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to the press service of the EU Council.
“Day after day, Russia is terrorising the Ukrainian people with its bombings. These are dangerous circumstances. Those who have fled Russian aggression can continue to count on our solidarity,”
– said Nicole de Moer, Belgian Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration.
In accordance with their national procedures, EU member states may need to adopt additional implementing acts to formalise the extension.
Temporary protection grants Ukrainian citizens the right to residence, medical and social assistance, housing, access to the labour market and education for children. It provides collective protection to a large group of displaced persons who arrive in the EU and are unable to return to their home country.
The EU activated the Temporary Protection Directive on 4 March 2022. It was automatically extended for a year and then for another year until 4 March 2025.
Currently, almost 4.2 million people displaced from Ukraine are enjoying temporary protection in the EU, including a third of children.
