EU Considers Restricting Temporary Protection for Military-Age Ukrainian Men
The European Union is deliberating on tightening the rules for temporary protection granted to Ukrainian refugees, particularly focusing on military-age men. This scheme, which has allowed over four million Ukrainians to reside and work in EU member states since 2022, may soon exclude men aged 23 to 60 who are eligible for military service. The proposal, discussed by EU interior ministers in Luxembourg, aims to address the influx of military-age men who have crossed into the EU, some of whom may have done so illegally. The current system allows Ukrainians to obtain protection without applying for asylum, under the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive. However, the Ukrainian government has expressed a desire for military-age men to return to Ukraine, aligning with the EU's potential policy shift. 
