At a meeting of the interior ministers of the European Union countries in Luxembourg, the issue of changing the temporary protection regime for Ukrainian citizens was raised for the first time. Austria initiated the move to revoke the automatic protection status for Ukrainian men of conscription age, starting in March 2027.
Austria's Position: Balancing Security and Economy
Gerhard Karner, the Austrian Minister of the Interior, stated that Ukraine needs men of conscription age both to defend the country and to maintain its economy. In his opinion, such a step would benefit both sides — Austria and Ukraine.
"Starting from March 2027, there should no longer be an automatic protection status for Ukrainian men. Ukraine needs male citizens of conscription age," Karner emphasized.
The Austrian Ministry of the Interior noted that it is important to act quickly so that the changes come into force on time.
Who will be affected by the new rules?
According to the proposals, the new restrictions will apply to men aged 23 to 60 — this is the age group currently subject to the ban on leaving Ukraine. Exceptions may be made, for example, for single fathers.
Men aged 18 to 22 will be allowed to leave Ukraine from August 2025, so the new restrictions will not apply to them.
Those who are already in the EU and have temporary protection status will not lose it. The new rules will apply only to new applicants.
Support from other EU countries
Several European Union countries support the idea of not admitting men of conscription age through a simplified procedure — without undergoing a full asylum application review. One of the proposed ideas is to determine the legality of departure based on a stamp in the passport.
Currently, there are more than 4.33 million displaced persons from Ukraine in the EU.
What's next?
No decisions were made at the EU Council meeting in Luxembourg — countries merely exchanged positions. Cyprus's Deputy Minister of the Interior, Nicolas Ioannides, explained that the meeting was necessary to gather opinions, and the European Commission will receive recommendations later.
Earlier reports indicated that the EU plans to extend temporary protection after March 2027, but restrictions may be introduced for men of mobilization age. The European Commission clarified that the new rules will apply only to new applicants.