European Union officials on Thursday expressed broad support for restricting temporary protection access for Ukrainian men eligible for military service, according to Sweden’s migration minister.
The bloc implemented its Temporary Protection Directive following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 to handle the massive influx of displaced individuals fleeing the conflict.
This protection program, which has received three extensions and is scheduled to end in March 2027, provides recipients with residence permits along with work authorization and social benefits access.
Sweden’s Migration Minister Johan Forssell indicated his nation backs the proposal that was deliberated during a Justice and Home Affairs session in Luxembourg. He emphasized that any new limitations would only affect future applicants for temporary protection status, while current beneficiaries would remain unaffected.
“It is essential for us to provide Ukrainians with protection, but at the same time the war needs to be fought and won. For that to happen, it is essential that more men stay in Ukraine and fight,” Forssell stated before the meeting commenced.
Any extension or changes to the current framework would require a proposal from the European Commission, followed by approval from member nations.
Current Eurostat figures show that over 4.33 million Ukrainian refugees are receiving benefits under this directive.
According to the same data, Germany accommodates the highest number of Ukrainians under this program, representing approximately 29% of the EU’s total, with Poland and Czechia following in the rankings.
