EU considers extending temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees under new rules
European Union countries consider extending emergency status for Ukrainians for a sixth year (Photo: Reuters)
The European Union is considering extending temporary residence and work rights for Ukrainian refugees who fled the war, potentially under new rules, Euractiv reported on March 20.
Journalists note that the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD), activated in March 2022, has allowed millions of Ukrainians to live and work in Europe without overwhelming asylum systems. Initially conceived as a short-term emergency measure, it has been repeatedly extended.
According to a European Council note dated March 17 and seen by the publication, EU diplomats and officials will meet next week at a technical-level session to consider the possibility of extending the TPD again.
Euractiv recalls that last year EU capitals adopted a recommendation to phase out the program through a “coordinated transition” to more stable legal statuses for Ukrainians, including residence permits linked to work, study or long-term stay, as well as support for voluntary return when conditions allow.
However, the publication notes that progress toward more stable statuses for refugees has been slow and uneven, a reality increasingly recognized by many EU countries.
According to a discussion paper, “at this stage, the number of transitions to other statuses remains very low,” while “options for alternative legal statuses for beneficiaries remain uneven across the EU.”
“While several member states have begun developing transition mechanisms from temporary protection, many others have yet to establish clear procedures or guidance for post-temporary protection residence,” the document said.
Journalists note that this gap is now compounded by a broader political question of whether protection should be extended and what any potential extension should look like.
The document suggests one option could be to scale down the program and convert it into a more limited “residual status” — effectively a social protection system designed for the most vulnerable or those not yet eligible for another legal status.
It also raises the question of whether the issue should be addressed at the EU level by extending the TPD, or whether national authorities should be given the flexibility to differentiate between individuals eligible for legal residence.
Ilva Johansson, the European Commission’s special envoy for Ukrainians in the EU, said earlier this month that “five years is enough for temporary protection” and that a new approach is needed even if the war continues.
“[EU countries] clearly understand that if there is any extension, it must limit the scope and duration differently, rather than simply prolonging it in its current form,” she said.
In November 2025, Bild reported that the German government had reached a preliminary agreement to change the system of social support for Ukrainians. Those arriving after April 1, 2025, would be treated as asylum seekers rather than temporary protection beneficiaries, changing their legal status and benefits.
On Dec. 2, Dutch Housing Minister Mona Keijzer said Amsterdam plans to introduce three-year residence permits for Ukrainian refugees, set to take effect in 2027 when temporary protection in the EU expires.
Starting in February 2026, Poland is also introducing a series of changes to residence conditions and assistance for about 1 million Ukrainians under temporary protection on its territory.
In February, EU envoy for Ukrainians Ilva Johansson told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that years spent under temporary protection do not automatically count toward obtaining EU long-term residence status. However, member states have already begun transitioning to national permits, using existing laws or updating their legislation.
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