EU extends temporary protection status for 4 million Ukrainians until 2025
The European Commission made an official proposal to extend until March 2025 the temporary protection status for Ukrainians who left for the European Union due to Russia's military aggression, reads the message on the European Commission portal.
The EU activated the Temporary Protection Directive on March 4, 2022 by unanimous decision of the member states, and its validity was automatically extended for one year. In August, Ukraine managed to agree with the EU on the extension of temporary protection until March 4, 2024.
The European Commission's proposal to extend temporary protection must be approved by the EU Council.
The Temporary Protection Directive provides Ukrainians with access to rights in the EU, including the right to residence, access to the labor market, housing, social assistance, medical and other assistance.
The directive also helps prevent undue pressure on national asylum systems.
The European Commission believes that the reasons for temporary protection remain and therefore it should be extended as a necessary and adequate response to the current situation.
According to Eurostat, as of July 31, 2023, more than 4.1 million people who left Ukraine after the Russian invasion had the status of temporary protection in EU countries. 98% of them are Ukrainians.
On July 10, 2023, the European Commission extended simplified roaming for Ukraine for another year.
On September 13, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stated that Ukraine has made significant progress on the way to membership in the European Union.