EU will no longer protect Ukrainian men

This proposal arose during discussions on the future extension of the EU Temporary Protection Directive (TPD), which allows Ukrainians to live and work throughout Europe without resorting to national asylum systems. The scheme, activated after Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, is currently valid until March 2027, according to Euractiv.

According to an internal EU Council document, options under discussion include extending the temporary protection while narrowing its scope, specifically by excluding men of military age or those who left Ukraine illegally.

Any such restriction would apply to new applicants seeking temporary protection.

Last year, the European Commission called on national capitals to prepare for the gradual phasing out of the program. In 2024, it adopted recommendations for a coordinated transition to more stable legal statuses, but progress has been uneven.

Some national governments have expressed concern that a growing share of recent arrivals are men of military age. At the same time, a number of countries argue that this system should also be revised in the interests of Ukraine, both to support the country's resistance to Russian aggression and to facilitate future reconstruction efforts.

Migration ministers will consider this issue at a meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council this week. Any changes to the Directive must be initiated by the European Commission.

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