--- title: "Kyiv initiates the exclusion of men of conscription age from the EU temporary protection system" description: "Kyiv initiates the exclusion of men of conscription age from the EU temporary protection system. EU countries supported extending the directive until 2028 but are divided on restrictions: Germany and Poland are in favor, while Estonia and Luxembourg are against. πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¦" date: 2026-06-05T05:28:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/kyiv-initiates-exclusion-of-men-of-conscription-age-from-eu-temporary-protection-system tags: [] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Kyiv initiates the exclusion of men of conscription age from the EU temporary protection system ![Ukrainian refugees with a flag and scarves in front of a crowd, symbolizing the topic of temporary protection in the EU](https://xab.info/media/2026/06/05/kiev-initsiiral-isklyuchenie-muzhchin-prizyvnogo-vozrasta-iz-sistemy-vremennoy-zashchity-v-es/kiev-initsiiral-isklyuchenie-muzhchin-prizyvnogo-vozrasta-iz-sistemy-vremennoy-zashchity-v-es-1.webp) A new phase of discussions regarding the status of Ukrainian refugees has erupted in Brussels. While EU countries unanimously supported extending the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) until March 2028, they are now debating significant changes to the conditions of its provision. At the center of attention is an initiative from Kyiv, which is reportedly advocating for the exclusion of men of conscription age from this protection. ### Shift in vector: from support to restrictions During a meeting of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council held on June 4, Cyprus's Deputy Minister for Migration, Nicolas Ioannides, confirmed that the majority of member states are ready to review the rules. According to him, such steps are necessary to reach an agreement that will benefit the Ukrainian people while relieving excessive pressure on host countries. The key agenda item was the proposal to exclude men aged 23 to 60 from the temporary protection system. This was stated by the European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner. He emphasized that this step aligns with requests coming from the Ukrainian side. ### Position of leading host countries During the discussion, special attention was paid to the opinions of countries that have accepted the largest number of Ukrainian citizens. This primarily concerns the Czech Republic, the Baltic states, Poland, Germany, and Austria. These are the states experiencing the greatest strain on their social infrastructure and labor markets. It is important to note a nuance: previously, discussions focused on excluding not all men of conscription age currently in Europe, but only those who would apply for temporary protection status in the future. This would have allowed the rights of those who have already received asylum to be preserved while limiting the influx of new individuals. ### Division within the European Union Despite general support for extending the protection period, there is no unity within the EU regarding restrictions. Two camps are forming: - Germany, Sweden, and Poland support the idea of restrictions for men of conscription age. - Estonia and Luxembourg advocate for the continuation of the directive without changes. Austria went even further and proposed completely abolishing automatic protection for men aged 23–60 starting in March 2027, which is currently the most radical proposal. ### Next steps and timelines The meeting in Luxembourg served as a platform for exchanging positions, but no final decision was made. European Commissioner Magnus Brunner promised that in the coming weeks, the European Commission will present an official proposal regarding the future of temporary protection. The document must be approved by member states by a qualified majority.