The Council of Europe has called for continued support for Ukrainians until the war ends
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty urged European states not to rush to phase out the temporary protection scheme for Ukrainians and stressed that it should remain in place until returns are safe and sustainable.
This is stated in a post on his official website.
He emphasized that despite the EU’s extension of temporary protection for Ukrainians until March 2027, some countries are already discussing its gradual phasing out. In his view, this poses risks for the most vulnerable groups of Ukrainians.
O’Flaherty recalled that at the start of the full-scale war, Europe demonstrated unprecedented solidarity by granting Ukrainians the right to residence, work, education, and social protection. At the same time, some countries are now seeing a reduction in aid and an increase in political discussions regarding the termination of emergency support mechanisms.
He also drew attention to the rise of anti-Ukrainian sentiment in some EU countries, which may be fueled by populist political statements. Due to the lack of a coordinated approach, he said, Ukrainians may face a difficult choice regarding their legal status.
The Commissioner emphasized that Russia’s war against Ukraine is ongoing and has intensified, and the number of civilian casualties remains high. Russian attacks continue to destroy civilian infrastructure and worsen living conditions.
He stressed that international protection can only be terminated when return is genuinely safe, noting that such conditions do not currently exist. O’Flaherty urged avoiding a scenario of sudden termination of protection, as warned by the UN.
Separately, he stressed the need to begin preparing long-term solutions now to ensure that no legal gaps arise for Ukrainians in Europe once the current regime ends.
According to the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, 4.38 million Ukrainians who were forced to leave the country due to the war are currently under temporary protection in European Union member states. The largest number of Ukrainian refugees under protection is in Germany.
The EU may change the terms of temporaryprotection for Ukrainians, according to the European Commission.
As a reminder, Slovakia has automatically extended the term of temporary protection for Ukrainians who left Ukraine due to the full-scale war launched by Russia until March 4, 2027.
In addition, Ukrainians who have received temporary protection in Ireland can breathe a sigh of relief, as the country’s authorities have automatically extended their immigration permits until March 4, 2027.
Although the EU has extended temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees until 2027 and guaranteed them access to housing, the labor market, education, and healthcare, the situation is already changing in many ways.
Ukrainian refugees will lose their temporary protection in the EU: are they ready to return?
