The European Commission has presented a support plan for refugees from Ukraine.
This was announced by President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
"Europe supports those who need protection. Everyone who is fleeing Putin's bombs is welcome in Europe. We will protect asylum seekers and help those who are looking for a safe way home,” the statement said.
The Commission proposes to invoke the Temporary Protection Directive in order to offer rapid and effective assistance to people fleeing the war in Ukraine.
According to this proposal, those fleeing the war will receive temporary protection in the EU, i.e. they will receive a residence permit, they will have access to education and the labor market.
The Commission also proposes guidelines aimed at helping border guards in the Member States to effectively manage new arrivals at the border with Ukraine while maintaining a high security level. The guidelines also recommend that Member States set up special emergency corridors for humanitarian aid.
According to the statement, more than 650,000 people have fled to the neighboring EU member states since the start of the Russian invasion. “Citizens of Ukraine and people who have made Ukraine their home, as well as their family members displaced by the war will have the right to protection throughout the European Union. Other people who are legally staying in Ukraine for a short time and can safely return to their country of origin will not be granted this protection. However, they must be allowed to enter the EU for transit before returning to their country of origin," the statement said.
Further invocation of both documents must be approved by the EU Council, which has already endorsed them on 27 February. The institution pledged to discuss the two documents at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on Thursday, March 3rd.
Once the proposals are accepted, the temporary protection will take effect immediately and will last for 1 year. This period can be automatically extended for another six to twelve months.
It should be mentioned that the Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air has vowed to provide 100,000 free tickets for Ukrainian refugees departing from Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Hungary in March 2022.