A serious political crisis is brewing in Brussels, capable of changing the migration policy of the European Union. Member states of the bloc are discussing a radical change in the conditions for granting asylum to Ukrainian citizens: the issue is the possible cancellation of the automatic temporary protection status for men of conscription age. The initiative, voiced before the meeting of the EU Council on Home Affairs in Luxembourg, has already found support from Berlin, Stockholm, and Warsaw, but has met with sharp rejection from other members of the alliance.
Position of Germany and Sweden: Abolishing Automation
Key players in European politics are calling for a review of the current directive. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt clearly outlined Berlin's position: the country is ready to support the extension of the protection mechanism, but exclusively on new terms. According to him, men subject to mobilization may be offered to go through the standard, more lengthy asylum procedure as refugees instead of an automatic status.
Sweden supports similar rhetoric. Migration Minister Johan Forssell called the exclusion from protection of those who have a ban on leaving Ukraine a "reasonable proposal." The Swedish side's argumentation is based on military necessity: for Ukraine to win, it is critically important that men of conscription age remain on the territory of their country.
Position of Poland: Against the "Geographical Approach"
Warsaw, which hosts the second largest number of refugees on its territory, generally agrees with the idea of restrictions for persons of conscription age. However, Polish authorities categorically reject the so-called "geographical approach." This proposal implies refusing protection to people arriving from so-called "safe" regions of Ukraine. Poland insists that the status should not depend on the place of residence in a country that is at war.
Split: Estonia and Luxembourg Against Changes
The initiative to limit the rights of Ukrainian men has not found unanimous approval. Estonian Interior Minister Igor Tarro and Luxembourg's Interior Minister Leon Gloden put forward counterarguments. They believe that the most reasonable step is to automatically extend the directive in its current form without changes. Furthermore, representatives of these countries emphasized that any adjustments to migration policy must be coordinated with Kyiv in advance.
Statistics and Scale of the Problem
The discussion in the EU Council concerns the fate of millions of people. According to the latest data, 4.33 million displaced persons from Ukraine are using the temporary protection mechanism in the European Union. The distribution of refugees is uneven:
- Germany accepted 28.7% of all refugees;
- Poland — 22.3%;
- Czechia — 9%.
Outlook: New Rules for New Applicants
European Commissioner for Home Affairs Magnus Brunner confirmed that among the current proposals, the exclusion of men aged 23 to 60 from the temporary protection system is being considered. He expressed hope for reaching a consensus between countries. The European Commission clarified an important nuance: new rules, if adopted, will apply only to new applicants.
The meeting in Luxembourg ended without final decisions. Member states limited themselves to exchanging opinions. As the Deputy Minister of Interior of Cyprus stated, the meeting was necessary to gather positions, and the European Commission will receive final recommendations later. The EU is considering the possibility of extending temporary protection after March 2027, however, the question of the status of men of mobilization age remains open and extremely painful for European politics.