Ukraine has asked the EU to consider excluding military-age men from temporary protection programs for displaced Ukrainians, according to EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner.
The proposal, according to DW, emerged during a meeting of EU justice and interior ministers in Luxembourg on Thursday, where member states discussed extending temporary protection for Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s full-scale invasion beyond its current expiration date.
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“All member states support extending temporary protection until March 2028,” Cyprus Deputy Migration Minister Nicholas Ioannides said after the meeting.
Cyprus currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU.
However, several countries are pushing for changes to the scheme, including possible restrictions on men aged 23 to 60 who fall within Ukraine’s mobilization age range.
“This is also something the Ukrainians are asking us to do,” Brunner said, referring to discussions on limiting access to temporary protection for military-age men.
The issue has become increasingly sensitive in countries hosting large Ukrainian populations, including Poland, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic and the Baltic states.
Despite reports of a potential exclusion, EU officials stressed that no decision has been made.
Previous discussions focused on future applicants rather than Ukrainians already covered by temporary protection.
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