The European Commission has proposed extending temporary protection for Ukrainians escaping the war with Russia until March 4th, 2026.
This will continue to provide shelter for the 4.2 million Ukrainians already in European Union (EU) countries. The goal is to offer stability to those affected by the conflict.
Temporary Protection Directive rights
The Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) ensures vital rights for Ukrainians seeking safety in the EU.
These rights include registration, documents, education, job training, healthcare, social benefits, jobs, and housing
The directive also provides special protections for children, who make up nearly one-fifth of the young Ukrainians now in EU countries.
Top host countries
Germany has taken in the most Ukrainian refugees among EU countries, giving temporary protection to 1.3 million people, which is 30.9% of the total in the EU.
Poland is next, hosting nearly 956,000 Ukrainians, and Czechia has welcomed over 364,000, making up 8.7% of the EU’s total.
Refugee numbers fluctuate across states
In March, the number of refugees changed in different parts of Europe.
Germany, the Netherlands, and Bulgaria saw more refugees come in, while Czechia, Sweden, Austria, Denmark, and Poland had fewer refugees.
Despite these changes, the EU is still committed to helping displaced Ukrainians.
Data shows that more than 98% of the people receiving temporary protection in the EU are Ukrainians.
Of these people, nearly half (45.8%) are adult women, almost a third (32.8%) are children, and just over a fifth (21.4%) are adult men.
EU boosts Ukraine aid and reforms
At the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin, the EU announced several plans to boost Ukraine’s defense and bring it closer to the Union. These plans include:
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Signing agreements worth €1.4 billion to attract private investments
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Supporting equity investments to improve funding for Ukrainian businesses
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Providing an extra €1.9 billion from the EU’s Ukraine facility
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Transferring about €1.5 billion from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine’s defense and rebuilding
The EU has raised nearly €500 million to help fix Ukraine’s energy sector through the Energy Support Fund.
The EU Civil Protection Mechanism has provided over 15,000 solar panels and plans to send 1,000 more power generators to support Ukraine's energy needs.
Additionally, the EU has decided that Ukraine does not have to pay its financial obligations for taking part in 14 EU programs.
As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the European Council has decided to extend temporary protection until March 4th, 2025, showing Europe’s ongoing support for people displaced by the war.
Adapting immigration and enhancing security
The arrival of many Ukrainian refugees shows the need for strong security measures like the European Travel Information and Security System (ETIAS), which will launch in mid-2025.
As EU countries deal with the refugee crisis, their immigration policies might change. They may extend temporary protection and create ways for long-term residency, family reunification, or humanitarian visas.
A call for unity amidst crisis
As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the EU’s strong support for those displaced by Russia gives hope and shows unity.
Since the start of the war, Europe has provided nearly €100 billion in financial, humanitarian, emergency, budget, and military support to Ukraine. This shows Europe is committed to helping those most affected by the crisis.