Switzerland may end protection for Ukrainian refugees — Reports
Switzerland may end protection for Ukrainian refugees (illustrative photo: Getty Images)
The Swiss People's Party (SVP) this week submitted a proposal to the National Council to completely revoke S protection status for Ukrainian refugees, arguing that large parts of Ukrainian territory have been spared from fighting and can be considered stabilized, NZZ reports.
As of May 2025, more than 69,000 people in Switzerland held S protection status. Since the beginning of the year, 3,300 new applications for protection have been submitted, while around 2,600 individuals have returned to Ukraine.
Cantons and municipalities provide housing for most refugees, but two-thirds of Ukrainians still cannot support themselves independently, despite a rise in employment levels.
Last year, the Swiss parliament supported an initiative by Esther Friedli of the Council of States to restrict access to S protection status for Ukrainians coming from regions without active hostilities or occupation. These changes do not apply to those who have already been granted protection. The Swiss Federal Council is expected to determine which regions of Ukraine will be classified as safe before the summer recess.
Earlier, it was reported that 4.26 million Ukrainians in the EU have received temporary protection status. In April alone, that number increased by 2,525, with the highest number of new arrivals recorded in Sweden.
