Head of European Commission proposes to extend temporary protection for Ukrainians in EU

She announced that the European Commission would propose to extend their temporary protection for Ukrainians in the EU. According to her, 4 million Ukrainians have found refuge in the EU since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion.

She emphasized that the EU has provided them with access to housing, medical care, the job market, and much more. She stated that it was Europe that answered the call of history.

The President of the European Commission also affirmed that the EU would support Ukraine as long as necessary.

Ukraine's accession to the EU

Ursula von der Leyen called for Ukraine's accession to the European Union, describing it as a groundbreaking decision for the bloc of 27 countries. She declared that the future of Ukraine is in Union.

The President of the European Commission did not rule out changes to the EU treaty if necessary.

She will always support this House - and all those who want to reform the EU and make it work better for our citizens. That means changes to the European Convention and the treaty, where and when needed, Ursula von der Leyen said from the podium of the European Parliament.

Temporary protection

The directive on temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees was activated in March 2022, immediately after Russia's full-scale invasion. Ukrainians were granted shelter for one year, and the directive was extended for an additional year until March 2024. The mechanism is designed for three years, until March 2025.

According to Bloomberg, Ursula von der Leyen told EU ambassadors that the bloc needs to expand its borders to acknowledge new geopolitical realities. She argued that Ukraine and Moldova need to be granted membership to prevent them from falling under the influence of countries that do not share the bloc's values.