European Union countries have agreed to extend the temporary protection scheme for refugees from Ukraine until March 2028. At the same time, additional conditions are being introduced for some new applicants: according to the Council of the EU, protection will be granted only to Ukrainian citizens who can show that they are fulfilling their military obligations.
The Council said the decision was made in view of Ukraine’s changing defense needs. The new rules, however, will not affect people who are already covered by temporary protection in EU member states.
To obtain the status, new applicants will have to provide proof that they left Ukraine lawfully. This may include, for example, a passport stamp authorizing departure on legal grounds, or a paper or electronic document confirming that the person is exempt from service or has fulfilled obligations required by law.
“Today we decided to extend, by one year until March 2028, the protection status granted to people fleeing war. This will provide stability for those who have found refuge in the EU. The message is clear: we continue to support Ukraine,” said Irish Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan, whose country currently holds the EU presidency.
He added that, as part of that support, the EU also wants to preserve Ukraine’s ability to defend itself, which is why the temporary protection program now takes its legitimate needs into account.
The decision is expected to be formally approved in the coming weeks. It will take effect after publication in the EU’s Official Journal. The Temporary Protection Directive, or TPD, has been in force since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and allows Ukrainian citizens to live and work across the EU without applying for refugee status separately in each country.
In early June, it emerged that the Ukrainian authorities had asked the EU not to extend the scheme for men of mobilization age — 23 to 60. Germany’s interior minister, Alexander Dobrindt, had previously said that more and more men in that age group had been arriving from Ukraine in recent months. Denmark announced similar steps: Ukrainians aged 23–60 who are not exempt from service will no longer be able to obtain residence permits under a simplified procedure, although permits already issued will remain valid.