EU may extend protection for Ukrainian refugees until 2027
Photo: The EU may extend protection for Ukrainian refugees (Getty Images)
The European Union may extend the Temporary Protection Directive for Ukrainian refugees until March 2027. This mechanism would allow millions of Ukrainians to remain in EU countries, Bloomberg reports.
The European Commission has proposed extending the legal framework known as the Temporary Protection Directive for Ukrainian refugees until March 4, 2027.
This directive initially came into force in March 2022, enabling displaced Ukrainians to remain in EU member states without undergoing the formal asylum procedure.
According to EU data, over 4.3 million refugees have already taken advantage of this measure. They currently hold residence permits and have access to employment, education, and healthcare across the 27-member bloc.
Earlier today in Brussels, the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, together with Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Chernyshov, announced the proposal.
Originally, the mechanism was expected to last a maximum of three years, but the Commission had already extended it to March 2026.
The outlet reports that, given the escalation of the war in Ukraine, the Commission has asked member states to start preparing for the gradual phase-out of the temporary protection system and to explore alternative pathways for refugees within the bloc.
This includes supporting Ukrainians in transitioning to more stable legal statuses for those who may wish to stay after the directive expires, or planning for the voluntary return of Ukrainians to their home country.
The Commission’s proposal to extend the directive still needs to be approved by the European Council.
Ukraine’s Ambassador to the EU, Vsevolod Chentsov, previously spoke about this initiative and even indicated when a decision might be made.
The extension of protection for Ukrainian refugees is on the European Commission’s agenda, although it does not specify the exact duration of the proposed extension.
According to European Commission data, as of January 2025, around 4.3 million people in the EU were under temporary protection.
However, projections suggest this number will decrease to 4.1 million by the end of 2025 and to 3.8 million by the end of 2026.
