Denmark plans to limit protection for Ukrainians from 14 regions
Denmark plans to change the rules for granting temporary protection to Ukrainians and will no longer automatically grant it to residents of 14 regions that Copenhagen considers relatively safe. At the same time, the new rules will apply only to new applicants, and there are no plans to revoke permits that have already been issued.
Under the proposed changes, 14 regions in western and central Ukraine may be deemed relatively safe for the civilian population. At the same time, it is proposed that the city of Kyiv be excluded from this list. Thus, Ukrainians arriving in Denmark from these “safe” regions will no longer be able to automatically receive protection in the future, as was previously the case.
The authors of the article note that one of the government’s main arguments is the burden on local communities. Denmark’s Minister for Immigration and Integration, Morten Bødskov, reported that approximately 47,600 Ukrainian citizens currently reside in the country.
“Some municipalities are having difficulty finding housing for such a large number of Ukrainians, as well as integrating them into Danish society,” Bødskov explained.
In addition to changing the rules regarding regions of origin, the government is proposing to introduce additional requirements for Ukrainians receiving social benefits. Specifically, this involves the possible introduction of a work requirement. There are also plans to revise the regulations concerning children’s education. Currently, Ukrainians are allowed to receive an education in English or Ukrainian, including through distance learning.
Bjodskov also noted that Norway and Switzerland have recently taken similar steps. According to him, the tightening of immigration rules in those countries has led to a decrease in the number of applications for residence permits.
The Danish government’s initiative has already drawn criticism from Ukrainians living in Denmark. The publication specifically cites a Ukrainian teacher who emphasized the unpredictability of Russian shelling and the psychological trauma suffered by children. In her view, formally designating certain regions as safer does not mean there is no military threat there.
Rzeczpospolita reports on this.
Earlier, Polish police stated that the attack on Ukrainians in Wrocław may have been ethnically motivated.
As a reminder, a Ukrainian couple was brutally beaten in Wrocław, Poland. According to the victim’s mother, the attack occurred after the assailants heard Ukrainian being spoken in a store. Both victims sustained serious injuries; medical professionals suspect they may have suffered concussions.
The Ukrainian Consulate has asked Polish authorities to urgently locate the attackers who assaulted the Ukrainians in Wrocław.
