EU Considers Tighter Rules for Ukrainian Refugees

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced plans to tighten EU rules on hosting refugees from Ukraine. In a letter to EU leaders ahead of Thursday's summit in Brussels, she stated that the Commission will propose extending the temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees while simultaneously reducing its scope. The aim is to ensure that the protection does not compromise Ukraine's ability to defend itself against Russia. Von der Leyen did not disclose specific details, including whether different rules would apply to men of military age.

At an EU interior ministers' meeting in early June, Germany and other member states argued that it should be more difficult for military-age men from Ukraine to receive protection in the EU. A proposal to exclude men aged 23 to 60 from the refugee directive received broad support.

Currently, Ukrainian refugees are covered by the EU Temporary Protection Directive, which grants protection without requiring individual asylum procedures. The directive is valid until March 4, 2027, and EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner has said he will soon submit a proposal for its extension.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz last year called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to tighten exit rules for young men. "I asked him to ensure that these young men stay in the country because they are needed there, not in Germany," Merz said at the time.