Temporary protection for those fleeing Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine: one year on

Summary:

Communication adopted by the European Commission on 8 March 2023, taking stock of the implementation of Council Directive 2001/55/EC one year after it was activated for the first time as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Further information:

Council Directive 2001/55/EC - also known as the Temporary Protection Directive - set up a scheme to deal with mass arrivals in the European Union (EU) of foreign national who cannot return to their countries, in particular due to war, violence or human rights violations. It puts in place immediate temporary protection for these displaced people.

Russia decided to launch a military invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. A key component of the immediate response provided by the EU was the activation of this Directive on 4 March through Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382, which was complemented on 28 March with a 10-Point Plan addressing coordination on welcoming people fleeing the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Temporary protection has already been extended until March 2024.

This Communication takes stock of the Directive's implementation over one year, building on a Communication adopted by the European Commission in March 2022. It provides insight into how the EU managed to enable and coordinate a whole-of-society response to the largest displacement on European soil since World War II. It also identifies priority areas where continued efforts are needed to guarantee the rights provided for in the Directive. Furthermore, the Communication offers some reflections on the way forward to preserve some key lessons learned and make the EU more resilient and better able to adapt to future challenges. It was adopted by the Commission on 9 March 2023.

Official

European Commission: EU Solidarity with Ukraine https://eu-solidarity-ukraine.ec.europa.eu/index_en

European Commission: Press Release, 08/03/2023: EU Solidarity with Ukraine: one year of temporary protection for people fleeing Russian aggression against Ukraine https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_1525

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