EU drafts limits on temporary protection for Ukrainian men of conscription age

The European Commission is set to propose a change to the EU's temporary protection directive that would exclude Ukrainian men of conscription age from the scheme. The proposal, to be discussed by EU interior ministers on Thursday, could be incorporated into a new extension of the protection system that would run until 2028.

Poland is leading the push for the exclusion, arguing that all Ukrainians remain exposed to the war and that protecting men subject to mobilisation is untenable. Poland will be represented by Deputy Minister of the Interior, Maciej Duszczyk, and has already introduced national measures requiring Ukrainians to apply for a PESEL number within 30 days of arrival. The current system, launched after Russia's invasion in 2022, grants more than 4 million Ukrainians legal residence, work rights and access to education across the EU and is due to expire in March 2027.

If adopted, the change would raise legal and practical challenges, including compliance with nondiscrimination principles, pressure on national asylum systems and the risk of divergent national practices. The EU hopes to gauge member‑state sentiment before finalising the proposal.