EU Commission proposes ending automatic protection for Ukrainian men

The European Commission has unveiled a proposal to tighten the EU's temporary protection regime for Ukrainian refugees. Under the plan, men aged 23 to 60 who are subject to Ukrainian military service would no longer receive automatic protection and would have to submit individual asylum applications. The change is intended to reflect Ukraine's need for manpower in its defence and reconstruction efforts and would apply only to new arrivals after the rule takes effect.

The scheme, introduced in March 2022, currently covers about 4.3 million Ukrainians across the bloc, with the largest numbers in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic. The proposal enjoys backing from Germany and Austria, while Estonia has voiced reservations. It must be approved by the EU Council before becoming law and would extend the existing directive, which is set to run until March 2027.