Vulcan Insight | Ukrainian refugees get instant rights to live and work in the EU

As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to intensify, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian civilians fleeing westward to the EU’s eastern borders are being welcomed in Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania. From there, the refugees are being distributed across European continent. And in a sign of strong EU action on managing the massive refugee stream, Interior Ministers signed off on the Temporary Protection Directive on Thursday evening, giving Ukrainians the right to live and work in the European Union for at least a year. 

The sign off of is critical, as it allows Ukrainian refugees to live, and critically, work in the EU, while also providing them with them access to social service benefits like housing and medical care. Under Ukraine’s current 3-month visa waiver programme, they would have been able to enter the EU without a visa, but could have faced potential deportation if they sought employment. Meanwhile, third-country nationals, who have a long-term permit to stay in Ukraine, should also be covered by the provisions of the Temporary Protection Directive or by relevant national legislation, according to the outcome of the emergency Justice and Home Affairs Council. If the conflict persists, or refugees cannot return safely, the status could be extended for a further two years.

The development closely follows European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s  vow this week that “Europe stands by those in need of protection, and all those fleeing Putin’s bombs are welcome in Europe.”

As Russia’s invasion enters its second week, according to the UN refugee agency UNHCR, over 1 million people have already fled Ukraine into neighbouring countries. The UNHCR has predicted over 4 million people will need protection and assistance, while the EU’s crisis management Commissioner Janez Lenarčič. has said the figure could reach potentially 7 million.

In Ireland, the Department of Foreign Affairs has waived visa requirements for Ukrainian nationals, and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, stated this week that “Ireland will have to ensure that we do what’s required of us in terms of sharing that responsibility in terms of how we look after Ukrainians.”

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, said further information on the numbers of refugees coming to Ireland will be known in the coming days. A key area of focus  is housing provision, with the Minister stating that “of course, initially, when people arrive there will be a need for immediate housing, we are examining this at the moment,” adding that, “there may in the future be an ask of Irish families.”

The Commission has also called on border guards on both sides of the Ukraine-EU frontier to ensure everyone is allowed into the EU, regardless of nationality or ethnicity. This is in response to widespread reports from African nationals attempting to flee the war that they were being turned back, either by Ukrainian or Polish border guards.

European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson said that “what is very, very clearly the position of this Commission, and the position of the European Union, is that absolutely everyone regardless of nationality, of race, religion should be allowed into the European Union. They are fleeing war from Ukraine. We will be a safe haven.”

Compliments of Vulcan Consulting – a member of the EACCNY.