UCCs: Ukrainian Consultation Centres

In October 2022, ICMPD launched a project Resilience, Reinforcement and Recovery of Ukrainian Migration and Consular Services (RRR MFA/SMS) to support the State Migration Service as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (Consular offices abroad) to protect and provide state services and assistance to the citizens of Ukraine fleeing the war, and to contribute to the resilience, reinforcement and recovery of Ukrainian migration and consular governance, while strengthening the capacities of national authorities and ensuring safe international mobility of Ukrainian citizens. One of the most important components of the project was to establish and start operating consultation centres (or information points) that would support the Ukrainian displaced persons in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic. The Ukrainian Consultation Centres aim to provide clear, timely, accessible and understandable information to Ukrainian temporarily displaced persons in their native language for free. The Centres cooperate with Ukrainian consulates, diaspora and migrant communities, NGOs and local authorities.

The main objective of the Ukrainian Consultation Centre is to provide persons fleeing the war in Ukraine accurate and timely information of safe and orderly migration in EU MS and provide in-person (as well as online/phone) consultations on a variety of topics related to their status under temporary protection, residence and potential return home.

The UCCs work closely with the Ukrainian Consulates, EU MS state agencies and NGOs and Ukrainian diaspora organisations. ICMPD Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia manages and supervises the work of the Centres, including coordination of work and capacity development. 

The Centres organise regular outreach activities and information sessions in remote locations (often with Ukrainian consulate representatives), in addition to other events with the involvement of thematic specialists (such as pro bono lawyers and experts). Outreach sessions are held in person, via live-streaming on social media, online, in the form of short videos, podcasts, etc. 

The UCCs offer personalised support and guidance through close cooperation with local municipalities, state authorities, and Ukrainian Consulates. These efforts assist displaced Ukrainians by strengthening access to information which allows them to gain stability and safety in their host countries. 

In more detail, the UCCs provide temporarily displaced Ukrainians with clear, timely, accessible and understandable information and consultations, mainly on available services, programmes and activities for Ukrainian citizens provided by the Ukrainian government and/or services and support provided by EU MS, including information on the rights and obligations during temporary protection, education, healthcare, employment opportunities and more. The UCCs also collect and disseminate relevant, up-to-date and verified information to Ukrainian citizens through various media channels on the legal conditions of temporary protection and other circumstances of residence in EU MS. Furthermore, the UCCs organise outreach and information events on specific topics and actively participate in Ukrainian diaspora engagement activities such as workshops, trainings and networking events.