The European Union has extended the term of temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees until March 4, 2026, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
„Day after day, Russia terrorizes the Ukrainian people with its bombings,” said Belgium's Secretary of State for Refugees and Migration Nicole de Maure, who is presiding over negotiations to extend the measure.
„Those fleeing Russian aggression can continue to count on our solidarity,” she said.
Ukrainians who fled to the European Union from a full-scale Russian invasion of their country in 2022 came under immediate protection after several EU member states created temporary regimes to admit large masses of people. Existing plans provided protection until March 2025.
The proposal aims to avoid lengthy national asylum procedures when processing the cases of large numbers of displaced persons.
People under temporary protection are entitled to social benefits, shelter, access to education and a work permit, among other things.
The European Commission reported that almost 4.2 million Ukrainians currently reside in the EU under these rules, with the largest number of people admitted to Germany - 1.2 million.