Temporary protection for Ukrainians in Europe has been extended until March 4, 2025. This decision was made during a meeting of the EU Council for Justice and Home Affairs.

"The EU will support the Ukrainian people for as long as it takes. The prolongation of the protection status offers certainty to the more than 4 million refugees who have found a safe haven in the EU," said the acting Minister of the Interior of Spain, Fernando Grande-Marlaska Gómes.

Temporary protection involves immediate provision of protection to displaced individuals who cannot return home. This is aimed at reducing the burden on national refugee reception systems and providing equal rights within the EU. These rights include access to housing, the job market, medical and social support, as well as education for children.

What is temporary protection?

The system provides immediate and collective (i.e. without the need for the examination of individual applications) protection to displaced persons who are not in a position to return to their country of origin.

The objective is to alleviate pressure on national asylum systems and to allow displaced persons to enjoy harmonised rights across the EU. These rights include:

• residence
• access to the labour market and housing
• medical assistance
• social welfare assistance
• access to education for children