The European Commission has proposed extending temporary protection status for Ukrainian refugees until March 2028, but with new restrictions on men of conscription age.
- The European Commission is proposing to extend temporary protection until March 2028.
- Men of conscription age will not be automatically granted this status.
- The restrictions apply to people aged between 23 and 60 who have no legitimate reason to travel.
- Those who have already been granted this status will not be subject to the new rules.
New rules for Ukrainian refugees
The European Commission has officially proposed extending the status temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees until March 2028, albeit with significant changes. Under the new initiative, men of conscription age who arrive in the EU after the new rules come into force will no longer be automatically granted this status.
Who will be affected by the new restrictions?
The new rules will apply to Ukrainian citizens of military age, aged between 23 and 60, including reservists who have no legal grounds for travelling abroad whilst martial law is in force. The restrictions will not affect men who are already in EU countries and have been granted temporary protection status prior to the official adoption of this proposal.
The aim of the initiative
The European Commission’s statement notes that this measure is intended to reconcile the need to protect people with Ukraine’s overall capacity to defend itself against Russia’s unlawful war of aggression. According to the Swedish Minister for Migration Juhana Forssell, earlier ministerial discussions this month revealed «strong support» for such restrictions among the bloc’s member states.
The position of human rights defenders
At the same time, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty He warned against the «blanket rejection» of applications from men of conscription age. He emphasised that each case should be considered on its own merits.
«I want to ensure that those who are legally entitled to exemption from conscription — for example, conscientious objectors — have the opportunity to prove their case,» said O’Flaherty in the comments POLITICO.
The European Commission’s proposal is to be considered and approved by the Council of the European Union. According to preliminary forecasts, a vote on this document could take place within the next few months.
