Temporary protection for Ukrainians: EU approves recommendations on phasing out
The Council of the European Union approved on 16 September recommendations for EU member states on the return, reintegration into Ukrainian society and change of legal status for Ukrainians displaced by the war and now living in EU countries once conditions allow.
The EU sets out in the recommendations a coordinated approach to phase out temporary protection for Ukrainians once conditions in Ukraine improve.
The recommendations include measures to ensure displaced people are kept informed, as well as provisions to ensure coordination, monitoring and information exchange between member states and Ukraine.
The Council has called on member states to grant displaced Ukrainians national residence permits, for example, on the grounds of employment, training, education or family circumstances.
Those under temporary protection must also be allowed to apply for statuses under EU law, including those related to highly qualified employment. It is not possible to simultaneously hold an EU legal status and benefit from temporary protection.
Many Ukrainians who fled the war require support to return home and reintegrate into Ukrainian society. Member states may assist them by allowing exploratory visits to Ukraine, with conditions for such visits coordinated between EU countries.
Member states are also expected to provide for voluntary return programmes available for a limited period of time and coordinate the conditions of these programmes with Ukrainian authorities and other member states.
They should extend temporary protection rights, such as housing, healthcare and education, to those participating in voluntary return programmes.
Member states should also provide information to displaced Ukrainians regarding opportunities to apply for another legal status, the impact on their rights and benefits, and support available to them upon returning to Ukraine.
EU countries should in particular establish information systems and develop campaigns about voluntary return programmes. They may also set up so-called "Unity Hubs", which can be funded through EU programmes.
In July 2025, EU ambassadors approved a list of recommendations on measures following the phase-out of temporary protection for Ukrainians.
As reported by European Pravda, once temporary protection in the EU ends, Ukrainians will be helped either to return voluntarily to Ukraine or to change their legal status in the EU if they work or study there.
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18 of September 2025
