The European Commission has proposed extending the temporary protection granted to Ukrainian refugees until March 2026.
The proposal comes amid continued attacks by Russia against civilians and infrastructure in Ukraine, necessitating ongoing refuge, the commission believes.
Initiated in March 2022, temporary protection was unanimously approved by EU Member States one week after Russia began invading Ukraine. It had already been extended to March 2025.
The provision provides numerous benefits for its beneficiaries within the European Union. These include the rights to residency, access to the European job market, accommodation, social assistance, and medical aid.
About 4.2 million displaced people from Ukraine, a third of them children, are benefiting from the measure.
The Commission’s proposal to extend this protection will formally be presented to European interior ministers later this week for their approval.
