A Swedish official believes Europe should consider Ukraine’s human resource needs for defense against Russian aggression.
Ukrainian refugees in the EU / © TSN
Sweden’s Minister for Migration, Johan Forssell, has proposed revoking the right to temporary protection in European Union countries for Ukrainian men of conscription age who are planning to seek asylum.
His statement was quoted by The Guardian.
According to the Swedish official, Europe should continue to support Ukrainians fleeing the war, but at the same time, it must consider Ukraine’s human resource needs for defense against Russian aggression.
“It is important for us to provide protection to Ukrainians, but at the same time, the war must be fought and won. For this to happen, it is necessary for more men to remain in Ukraine and fight,” Forssell emphasized.
The minister clarified that the proposed restrictions should not apply to Ukrainians who have already obtained temporary protection status in the EU. The proposal only concerns newly arrived men of conscription age who will seek such status in the future.
Sweden’s proposal was discussed by EU ministers during a meeting in Luxembourg. The European Commission is expected to propose a final decision on potential changes to the temporary protection mechanism, which will then need to be approved by EU member states.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, the European Union activated the Temporary Protection Directive, which granted millions of Ukrainians the right to reside, work, and receive social support in EU countries.
According to Eurostat, over 4.33 million Ukrainian citizens are currently covered by this program. Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic have accepted the largest number of Ukrainian refugees.
Ukrainian men in the EU – latest news
As a reminder, it was previously reported that Ukrainian men of conscription age might be deprived of the right to automatic temporary protection in EU countries. This possibility is being discussed by the interior ministers of EU states.
Men who illegally crossed the border, including via the Tisa River, are highly likely to be deported back to Ukraine. The key criterion will be the presence or absence of a border crossing stamp in their passport.
Ukraine and Spain have signed an implementation protocol to a readmission agreement. The document outlines the mechanisms for identifying and safely returning individuals who have violated residence rules.
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