NextFin news, On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, the Council of the European Union adopted recommendations outlining the future framework for Ukrainians residing in EU countries under temporary protection, as reported by Novyny from Slovakia. The recommendations aim to manage the gradual phase-out of temporary protection, which has been extended until March 4, 2027, and to facilitate transitions to other residence statuses or voluntary return to Ukraine.
Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, over four million Ukrainians have sought refuge in EU member states under the temporary protection mechanism. The Council's recommendations emphasize a coordinated and gradual approach to ending this protection, ensuring shared responsibility among EU countries.
According to the official EU Council website, member states are encouraged to provide national residence permits based on employment, education, or family reunification. Additionally, Ukrainians with relevant qualifications may apply for EU legal statuses for highly skilled workers, although these cannot be combined with temporary protection.
The recommendations also call for the establishment of voluntary return programs to Ukraine, coordinated with Ukrainian authorities and EU member states. Participants in these programs would retain key rights from the temporary protection scheme, including access to housing, healthcare, and education.
Special provisions are included for vulnerable groups and families with school-age children, allowing them to remain in host countries until the end of the academic year, even if their temporary protection expires earlier.
To support Ukrainians in understanding their options, the recommendations propose information campaigns and the creation of 'Unity Hubs'—contact centers offering assistance with documentation and employment advice both in host countries and Ukraine. Funding for these centers may come from EU programs.
Danish Minister for Immigration and Integration, Kaare Dybvad Bek, stated, "We must prepare for the day when Ukrainians can return home and help rebuild their country. A joint approach to exiting the temporary protection mechanism is in the interest of those forced to leave."
While the recommendations are not legally binding, they serve as guidance for EU governments in preparing coordinated responses. In Slovakia, the temporary protection period for Ukrainian refugees has been extended until March 4, 2026, with the possibility of further extension pending EU Council decisions.
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