Temporary Protection Directive could be activated today

The Justice and Home Affairs Council are discussing the Commission’s proposal to activate the Temporary Protection Directive at a further extraordinary meeting of Justice and Home Affairs ministers. The protection directive would grant Ukrainians fleeing the front lines in their home country automatic temporary residence permits in EU Countries. 

“I must say that I’m so impressed by all the efforts from all the EU citizens who are working there as volunteers… [who] open their homes for people to come live with them,” Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said. “This is a moment to be proud to be European, but this is also a moment for strong decisions.”

Over one million refugees have arrived in EU countries since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine last week. Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania have all accepted large numbers of refugees fleeing the front lines. While the EU’s crisis response arrangements have been activated, Commissioner Johansson emphasized the need for more funding and more legislation aimed at helping those impacted by the ongoing war in Ukraine. 

“I expect that we will have strong solidarity from all the member states towards the refugees, but also towards the member states who are most affected right now,” Johansson said. 

The ministers only expected political agreement today, but there is widespread good will to make this tool operable as quickly as possible. At the moment, Hungary has remained skeptical and is saying that this should remain a national, rather than EU, decision.

The Justice and Home Affairs Council is also expected to discuss governance of the Schengen area, the passport-free zone which includes most EU countries as well as several neighbors. At an informal meeting in early February, a Schengen Council designed to regulate the zone was proposed by the French Presidency. Ministers are also expected to address climate change, Interpol and changes in the asylum and migration policy.

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