In the EU, numerous governments support restricting protection status for Ukrainian men; Austria wants to "act quickly" – media
Kyiv • UNN
The EU is considering the possibility of restricting automatic protection for Ukrainian men aged 23-60. Austria proposes implementing these changes starting from March 2027.
EU interior ministers are discussing for the first time the possibility of restricting automatic temporary protection status for Ukrainian men. Austria is pushing to no longer grant asylum to Ukrainian men aged 23 to 60, Die Welt reports, according to UNN.
Details
As indicated, the ministers are discussing how to sharply reduce the number of Ukrainian refugees in the EU in the future. According to the publication, the idea is as follows: "Ukrainian men aged 23 to 60, who are prohibited from leaving the country, can no longer automatically receive temporary protection in the EU starting from March next year. However, this will not apply to men already residing in the Union."
The debates are reportedly still in the early stages.
"But preliminary discussions between EU countries have already shown that numerous governments are in favor of no longer granting admission to male refugees aged 23 to 60 under the so-called Temporary Protection Directive," the publication states. At the same time, Austria is reportedly looking to "act quickly."
"From March 2027, there should no longer be automatic protection status for Ukrainian men. Ukraine needs male citizens of conscription age," Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner told the publication ahead of the meeting in Luxembourg.
Such a step would help Austria, but also Ukraine, the minister said. Ukraine needs its own male citizens to defend the country and maintain its economic strength. The Ministry of the Interior in Vienna stated that it is now crucial to "act quickly" so that changes can be prepared in time and those affected have legal certainty.
In Brussels, EU countries are already considering in working groups preparing for the interior ministers' meetings how the new regulation can be implemented with as little bureaucracy as possible. One idea being considered is that a Ukrainian exit stamp would be sufficient to determine whether a man left Ukraine legally or not, the publication writes.
In Brussels, EU countries are reportedly already considering how to implement the new regulation as effectively as possible. According to Ukrainian law, men aged 18 to 22 are allowed to leave the country again starting from August 2025. Therefore, they would not fall under the planned new rules. However, men aged 23 to 60 are subject to a travel ban – with some exceptions, such as single fathers.