The European Union has decided to extend temporary protection measures for 4.4 million Ukrainian refugees until March 2028. Military-aged men will no longer be able to benefit from this status.

The European Union decided on Friday to extend temporary protection measures for the 4.4 million Ukrainian refugees until March 2028. This measure was activated in February 2022, on the first day of the Russian invasion, and must be renewed annually.

The European Commissioner for Migration, Magnus Brunner, emphasized the importance of clarity for refugees, which is why the extension was decided in advance. A significant change is that military-aged men will no longer be able to apply for this status, at the request of the Ukrainian authorities, reflecting a trend towards tightening conditions in several European states. This restriction has been criticized by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, who highlighted the need for individual assessments. The new rules do not affect men who have already obtained temporary protection and will come into effect after formal approval by the member states.