4.35 million displaced Ukrainians currently rely on the EU's Temporary Protection Directive, and EU member states will meet next week to decide whether to extend the emergency scheme into a sixth year.

The technical-level talks will examine whether to prolong the TPD — which took effect in March 2022 after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine — and how to phase its beneficiaries into more permanent legal statuses, according to a Council note dated 17 March, seen by Euractiv and reported by Rapporteur.

What does the directive do?

The TPD grants Ukrainians fleeing the war temporary residency and work rights across the EU without going through the bloc's standard asylum process. Member states adopted it as a short-term emergency response and have renewed it repeatedly since.

Officials now face a politically delicate choice: keep extending the directive, or reshape it into something narrower.

How many Ukrainians does it cover?

• 4.35 million displaced Ukrainians currently hold temporary protection across the EU.
• Just over a quarter live in Germany.
• Poland hosts 22.3% of beneficiaries.
• Just under 10% stay in Czechia.

That distribution has pushed capitals to weigh not only whether to renew, but how to move beneficiaries off TPD entirely.

Why is the transition so slow?

A discussion paper circulated ahead of next week's session warns that "at this stage the number of transitions to other statuses remains very low" and that "options for other legal statuses for beneficiaries remain uneven across the EU."

Several member states have already built pathways out of temporary protection. Many others have not. The paper notes that "many" governments "have yet to establish clear procedures or guidance for post-TPD residence."

That uneven rollout now shapes the scope of any extension.

What might a new version look like?

One option gaining traction in some capitals would scale the directive back into a "residual status" — a narrower safety net reserved for the most vulnerable or for those who cannot yet qualify for work-, study- or long-stay permits.

The Council note raises a parallel question: should any extension happen at EU level through the TPD, or should national authorities decide case by case who still qualifies?

The narrower version would mark a clear departure from the 2025 recommendation, which envisioned a "coordinated transition" toward stable residency tied to work or study.

Who is calling for change?

The Commission's special envoy for Ukrainians living in the EU, Ylva Johansson, said earlier this month that "five years is enough for temporary protection" and that a new approach was needed even if the war continues.

"They are clear that if there should be any prolongation, it has to limit the scope and the duration in a different way than just prolonging it as it is," Johansson added.

EU leaders appointed her on 18 June 2025 to steer member states toward a coordinated exit from the temporary protection system. She is a former EU home affairs commissioner and a Swede.

What did capitals agree last year?

In 2025, EU governments adopted a recommendation on phasing out the programme through a "coordinated transition." That plan would tie residence permits to work, study or a long-term stay, and provide support for voluntary return once conditions permit.

Implementation has lagged behind the political agreement.

Readers seeking guidance on TPD renewals or qualifying statuses should consult their national immigration authority and the Council's TPD page.