Kiev, Europe Brief News – Ukrainian refugees will have the right to live and work in the European Union for up to three years.
The proposal came under an emergency plan in response to what is becoming Europe’s biggest refugee crisis this century.
Nearly 875,000 people have fled Ukraine since Russia launched its attack less than a week ago, according to the UN.
The UN has also warned that 4 million could leave the country in the coming weeks and months.
More than half (454,000) have fled to Poland, while 116,000 have gone to Hungary, 67,000 to Slovakia, 45,000 to Romania and 79,000 to non-EU Moldova, Europe’s poorest country.
The EU plan would grant Ukrainian nationals and permanent residents the right to live, work, access healthcare, housing and education immediately for up to one year, without the requirement to go through lengthy asylum procedures.
The EU bloc’s member states will approve the plan on Thursday.
If the conflict continues, or refugees cannot return safely, that status could be extended for a further two years.
Ukrainian Refugees Welcomed
In contrast to previous migration waves, member states have shown a rapid political will to host the war refugees. Even if the massive and abrupt influx poses a logistic challenge for governments.
Poland has opened its borders to all Ukrainians and dropped its requirement to show a negative COVID-19 test. Germany and Austria are offering free-of-charge train journeys for those seeking to reach their countries.
Meanwhile, Ylva Johansson, the European Commissioner for home affairs, says the executive is ready to trigger an old, obscure EU directive that could provide the bloc with a fast way to manage the influx of refugees.
“This is really a situation where we could have millions of people on our territory and then we need to make sure that they have the proper protection and that they have the proper rights,” Johansson told Euronews during a visit to Romania, where she was visiting a camp for Ukrainian refugees.
“Most of Ukrainians coming now, they are coming with passports that give them visa free entry for 90 days. But we have to prepare for day 91.”
Johansson hopes the Temporary Protection Directive could help EU countries manage and share the applications of all the Ukrainian nationals who are expected to enter the bloc in the coming weeks.
“I think there will be a broad support for [the activation]. We had a first discussion. Of course, everything goes very quick now. Some member states might need some more time. But I hope that we will be able to adopt it already on Thursday,” the Commissioner said.
