EU Commissioner Ylva Johansson: Temporary Protection Directive for Ukrainians will be active until March 2024 

Ylva Johansson, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, announced that the Temporary Protection Directive for Ukrainians will continue to be in place at least until March 2024.

The Temporary Protection Directive, which was adopted in 2001 following the conflicts in former Yugoslavia, was triggered for the first time by the Council in March 2022, in response to the unprecedented Russian invasion of Ukraine, to offer quick and effective assistance to people fleeing the war in Ukraine. This includes residency rights, access to the labour market, housing, social welfare assistance, medical or other assistance, and means of subsistence.

According to the UN refugee agency UNHCR, more than seven and half million refugees from Ukraine have been recorded across Europe since the war began, while more than four million have registered for Temporary Protection or similar national protection schemes in Europe.

The Commissioner also said that Ukrainian refugees coming back home do not need to deregister and can keep their Temporary Protection received in the EU Member State.

“Of course, if or when you decide to go home, back to Ukraine, and then the situation suddenly can change and then you need to flee again. The EU will always welcome you and continue protecting you,” explained  Ilva Johansson. “The only thing you need to do is to notify the national or local authorities in your hosting country that you are returning back to Ukraine. But you do not need to return your card.” 

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Press release