The European Commission announced that the extension of temporary protection will provide legal certainty for beneficiaries and Member States, ensuring that the same standards of protection continue across the EU. It will also reassure displaced persons from Ukraine that seeking international protection is neither necessary nor mandatory, the Commission said in a statement.
Earlier on June 4, Euractiv reported that the European Commission would present a new proposal on temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees in the EU.
According to the report, EU Member States will soon decide whether to deepen their investment in the integration of Ukrainian refugees or prepare for their possible return, should conditions permit.
The issue of temporary protection affects 4.26 million Ukrainians. The EU activated its Temporary Protection Directive immediately after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The Ministry of National Unity of Ukraine reports that about 5 million Ukrainians are living in Europe. Minister Oleksii Chernyshov said in March that up to 70% of these citizens could return home once the war ends, revising his earlier estimate of 30% who could return under stable security conditions.