The bloc has said it will keep supporting refugees from the country, while also taking Kiev’s defense needs into account
The European Commission has proposed excluding military-age Ukrainian men from temporary refugee protections granted by the EU, while maintaining the scheme for others who fled the conflict with Russia for another year.
Kiev announced a general mobilization shortly after the escalation of the conflict in February 2022, barring almost all men considered eligible for service from leaving Ukraine. However, many of them still managed to escape the country; adult males currently account for around 27% of all Ukrainians benefiting from EU protections, with the rest being women and minors, according to the bloc’s data.
In a statement on Friday, the European Commission said that it is asking member states to back the prolongation of the scheme, providing Ukrainian refugees with residence permits, the right to work and access to medical assistance, social welfare and education, until March 2028.
The EU executive body stressed that by making the proposal it “reinforces its unwavering commitment to support Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
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