One-and-a-half years after Russia invaded Ukraine, the question of what comes next for people under temporary protection looms large, especially as we approach the halfway mark of the Temporary Protection Directive’s maximum duration. Policymakers are faced with a range of potential strategies, each with its distinct implications, necessitating a thoughtful and ideally coordinated response. To help guide this crucial dialogue, ICMPD is shedding light on potential avenues.
To stimulate and guide international dialogue, ICMPD’s Policy Unit has contributed to the conversation by:
- Publishing a discussion paper setting out preliminary policy options for states once temporary protection ends, including a look at future scenarios and past examples of temporary protection (March 2023)
- Authoring a commentary highlighting the urgency of determining what comes next for temporary protection beneficiaries (March 2023)
- Publishing a discussion paper examining in more detail the options for remaining in the EU when temporary protection ends, including an assessment of the potential administrative impact on Member States of different policy approaches and practical lessons learned in the context of Brexit (July 2023)
- Holding a webinar on the future of displaced Ukrainians in the EU (July 2023)
Back in September 2022, ICMPD and the Inter-Governmental Consultations on Migration, Asylum and Refugees (IGC) initiated a joint endeavor on Continuation and exit strategies for temporary protection and similar arrangements. This initiative spotlighted the importance of starting early to plan for a post-temporary protection phase. Through a series of meetings involving ICMPD and IGC Member States alongside international partners, stakeholders took part in:
- A scene-setting meeting to take stock of opportunities and challenges and gather key policy considerations (12 December 2022)
- An expert workshop to discuss key considerations, policy options, and potential impacts related to longer-term strategies for local integration and voluntary return (23-24 February 2023)
- A senior official meeting to identify lessons learned for future crises; explore the extension and cessation of temporary protection; and identify opportunities for linking temporary protection, legal migration and mobility with Ukraine’s reconstruction (21 March 2023)
More insights and updates will follow in the coming months – stay tuned!