War refugees from Ukraine can stay in the European Union without any problems until at least March 2026. The EU states decided on Thursday in Luxembourg to extend special rules for the temporary protection of Ukrainians in the EU, as the EU states announced. “We will continue to save lives,” said Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.
More than a million people from Ukraine have already found shelter in Germany. “Together with Poland and the Czech Republic, Germany has taken in more than half of the refugees from Ukraine,” said the SPD politician. There is therefore a need for better distribution within the EU.
According to the EU statistics office Eurostat, around 4.2 million refugees from Ukraine were recently registered in the 27 EU states. In terms of numbers, Germany takes in the most of them, but in relation to the population, the number of Ukrainian refugees is significantly higher in countries such as the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Poland.
In view of Russia’s ongoing attacks on civilian and critical infrastructure throughout Ukraine, the EU Commission believes that the conditions for a safe, permanent return of people to Ukraine are currently not in place. It therefore officially proposed extending the rules on Tuesday.
Shortly after the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU states activated the directive in the event of a “mass influx” of displaced persons. It was most recently extended until March 4, 2025. The advantage of the rule is that those affected do not have to go through a lengthy asylum procedure. In addition, they immediately have the right to social benefits, education, accommodation and a work permit.
