The European Commission has submitted a proposal to the Council of the European Union to extend the temporary protection regime for Ukrainian citizens by another year.
“Today, the European Commission is proposing to extend temporary protection for one more year for people fleeing Russia’s aggression against Ukraine,” the Commission said in a statement.
The temporary protection regime is proposed to be extended until March 4, 2028. It is currently due to expire on March 4, 2027.
At the same time, the European Commission believes the conditions for granting temporary protection should be adjusted.
“It is necessary to align protection needs with Ukraine’s overall capacity to defend itself against Russia’s illegal war of aggression. To this end, temporary protection should, as a general rule, no longer be granted to newly arriving persons who do not have authorization from the Ukrainian authorities to leave Ukraine due to their military service obligations,” the statement said.
The European Commission also stressed that preparing for a coordinated transition from temporary protection to longer-term legal statuses, in line with last year’s recommendation by the Council of the European Union, should remain a priority. The process is already underway in a number of member states.
“In close cooperation with the member states concerned and the Ukrainian authorities, the Commission will develop a pilot voluntary return and reintegration programme. The programme will provide practical support to those wishing to return to Ukraine in key areas such as employment, housing and education,” the Commission added.
The proposal must now be approved by the Council of the European Union.
According to the European Commission, nearly 4.4 million Ukrainian citizens benefiting from temporary protection are currently living in the European Union. Their number has remained broadly stable, increasing only slightly since 2024.
