AI Generated Image
Military-age Ukrainian men could lose EU protection
dw.com • • world
Key Points:
- The European Commission proposed that temporary protection in the EU should not be granted to newly arriving Ukrainians who are unable to leave Ukraine due to military obligations, while maintaining protection status for others.
- Since March 2022, over 4.3 million Ukrainians have been under temporary protection in the EU, with the status set to expire in March 2027 and requiring extension.
- The proposal, coordinated with EU member states and requested by Ukraine, targets mainly military-age males between 23 and 60, who are generally prohibited from leaving Ukraine due to conscription rules.
- The proposal has faced criticism from human rights officials calling for increased solidarity, while Germany and Austria support limiting protection for military-age men, and Estonia favors maintaining the current system without exceptions.
- The European Commission's proposal now awaits approval by a majority of EU member states, with decisions on such matters typically made swiftly.
