The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has commented on reports that in some European Union countries, Ukrainian citizens, particularly women, are being asked to provide data from the 'Reserve+' system when applying for temporary protection. The ministry confirmed that such cases exist, but noted that they are not widespread and are a temporary measure.
Reason: New EU Council Decision
According to the MFA press service, the situation arose against the backdrop of new rules for obtaining temporary protection coming into force. The key document is Council Decision No. 2026/1912, adopted on July 30, 2026. This decision extended the temporary protection regime for displaced Ukrainians until March 4, 2028. However, as the Ukrainian diplomatic mission notes, the European Union has not yet provided member states with centralized clarifications regarding the practical implementation of this regulatory act.
Lack of unified instructions
Due to the lack of a unified approach at the Brussels level, national authorities of individual EU member states are forced to apply the new rules based on their own interpretations and instructions. This has led to cases where migration service officers began requesting additional data, including information from the 'Reserve+' system, to confirm the applicant's status.
Who is at risk?
The MFA emphasized that the known cases of data requests mainly concern applicants who could not confirm the legality of their departure from Ukraine in the standard way — for example, by showing a stamp from the State Border Guard Service in their foreign passport. If proof of legal departure is available, the need to provide data from 'Reserve+' disappears. Nevertheless, until unified clarifications are introduced, such situations may arise in individual countries.
Expectation of practice normalization
The Ukrainian side expects the European Union to normalize the practice of applying the new rules as soon as possible, taking into account appeals from the Ukrainian side. The MFA assured that the described situations are temporary and will cease once the EU provides member states with unified clarifications. Currently, diplomats are working to eliminate these administrative barriers.
