The legal status of Ukrainian refugees in the EU could be at risk, as there is no clear plan to allow them to stay after the end of the conflict, writes the Euractiv portal.
In March 2022 The EU's Temporary Protection Directive has been activated, allowing millions of Ukrainians to live and work in the EU. However, in the event of an end to hostilities, it may cease to operate and the countries hosting refugees will have to decide for themselves what to do with Ukrainian citizens: reduce assistance, try to integrate them into society or try to deport them to their homeland, the portal writes. The EU is often paralysed by debates on migration, so any move to expand protection for foreigners at the EU level could trigger a backlash from dissenting countries. At the same time, each country interprets the Temporary Protection Directive differently depending on its legislation, which means that the treatment of Ukrainian citizens varies depending on where they have settled, the portal notes. This creates additional difficulties in developing a unified plan at the EU level.