The European Union prolongs safeguard measures for refugees from Ukraine.

The European Union has extended the temporary safeguard for those from Ukraine seeking refuge from conflict in their country.

On Thursday, the European Union’s interior ministers approved the extension of measures, which were put into place following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, until March 2025. These measures were originally scheduled to end in March 2024.

The Temporary Protection Directive, also known as the TPD, grants Ukrainians the freedom to travel within the EU, provides immediate residency and employment rights in EU nations, and enables them to receive social services benefits such as housing and healthcare.

Approximately 4 million individuals from Ukraine have received advantages from this policy since the beginning of the dispute, according to European Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson, who made the statement after the interior ministers’ meeting on Thursday. She also mentioned that this includes roughly 750,000 individuals working in Europe and over 300,000 individuals looking for employment through public employment services.

During her annual State of the Union speech in Strasbourg, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared the prolongation of the directive.

Following the Thursday meeting, Spanish Minister of Home Affairs Fernando Grande-Marlaska expressed openness to exploring alternative options for providing protection to Ukrainian refugees prior to the renewal of the directive in March 2025.

“We are sincerely hoping that it will not be required for everyone to return to their home country,” added Grande-Marlaska.