The EU activates its Temporary Protection Directive to help those fleeing Ukraine

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the European Commission (EC) invoked its Temporary Protection Directive in order to offer quick and effective assistance to Ukrainian refugees arriving in the EU-27.

Temporary protection for one year is now immediately available to Ukrainian nationals and their family members, as well as to non-Ukrainian nationals and stateless people who were legally residing in Ukraine and who cannot return to their country or region of origin (such as asylum seekers or beneficiaries of international protection), and their family members.

Find out more. See also the new guidelines for the directive's implementation published on 21 March 2021.

Welcoming those fleeing war in Ukraine - readying Europe to meet the needs

With some 3.5 million people arriving in the EU within just 4 weeks of the start of the war in Ukraine, the EC published on 23 March a communication on meeting the future needs of refugees. The EU is taking further steps to help EU countries ensure beneficiaries can effectively access their right to education, healthcare, accommodation and jobs, and assist their early integration. The actions also draw upon the provisions of the EU action plan on integration and inclusion 2021-2027 and focus on:

1. Offering a safe haven in the EU
2. Special protection for children
3. Access to education
4. Access to healthcare
5. Access to jobs
6. Access to accommodation and housing
7. Solidarity in action
8. Fast, flexible solutions to finance assistance

Find out more.

The European Agency for Asylum (EUAA) supports EU countries in providing protection to those fleeing the war

The EUAA compiles the most relevant information about the Temporary Protection Directive in a dedicated page. The agency has also published a leaflet summarisng the rights of the beneficiaries of temporary protection in the EU. This information is particularly useful in designing early integration solutions.

Find out more here.

EU cohesion funding to provide emergency and integration support

The EC also adopted the Cohesion Action for Refugees in Europe (CARE) legislative proposal. It allows for the easier and faster mobilisation of cohesion funds in support of those who have fled Ukraine. The EU-27 will also be able to use the funds to develop long-term integration solutions.

Find out more. 

Other EU resources

• The EC launched a dedicated page with information for people fleeing the war in Ukraine. The page features information about the rights of refugees, information from national authorities and information on travel options offered by European transport companies

• More about the response of the EU to the invasion of Ukraine can be found on the EC's Solidarity with Ukraine page

• The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) launched 1) a dedicated solidarity page which, among other resources, offers related news and documents from the different CoR cities and regions, and 2) an info-support hub to help the EU's regions and cities in welcoming those arriving from Ukraine

• The EC launched the Migration Management webpage on Ukraine, pulling together information on all its Ukraine solidarity and support activities in one place

• Eurostat published statistics on the number of Ukrainian citizens with resident permits in the EU prior to the Russian invasion of 24 February, alongside key contextual information

The governments of the EU countries take specific measures to address the early integration needs of those who have arrived from Ukraine. In addition, civil society, professional organisations, volunteers and various other actors have also stepped up to support the newcomers in unprecedented ways.

EWSI features major country updates and initiatives relevant to the early integration of those feeling the war in Ukraine, as well as observations from the ground - see the latest articles below.