Austria Pushes EU to End Automatic Protection for Ukrainian Men of Military Age.

Austria Calls for an End to Automatic Temporary Protection

According to Novyny.live: During a meeting of EU interior ministers currently underway in Luxembourg, Austria is advocating for the removal of automatic temporary protection for Ukrainian men eligible for military service, effective March 2027. Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner stated,

“As of March 2027, there should no longer be an automatic protection status for Ukrainian men. Ukraine needs its male citizens of conscription age.”

New Rules and Their Implications

The proposed restrictions would apply to men aged 23 to 60, while those between 18 and 22 years old would not be affected. Importantly, men who have already been granted protection status in Europe will not lose it under the new plan.

Currently, over 1.15 million Ukrainian men hold temporary protection in the EU. This issue is set to be discussed at the EU Council on Internal Affairs, scheduled for June 4, 2023.

Ending automatic temporary protection for Ukrainian men of fighting age could have a major impact on Ukraine's demographics, potentially prompting a significant number of people to return to the country. At the same time, the decision raises concerns among Ukrainians who have remained in Europe during the war, as changes to the rules could complicate their situation.

The EU-level discussion of this initiative shows that the issue of refugee protection remains pressing and requires a collective solution among member states.