BRUSSELS – ANSWER. For Europe receiving millions Ukrainian refugees after Russian invasion it was an unprecedented problem, but it was never treated with the same care as other waves of refugees, especially during a crisis. The European Union, in fact, showed an unprecedented reaction and just a few days after the start of the war – on March 4, 2022 – it activated the so-called temporary protection directive in order to offer Ukrainians quick and effective assistance.

And it seems that to a large extent the EU has succeeded, as about 4 million people received immediate protection, of which more than 3 million in the first half of 22. All registrants were entitled to access to the labor market, education, health care and housing.

“Europe has shown its best side,” emphasized yesterday the vice president for the European way of life, Margaritis Schinason account of the period of implementation of the directive in question, which the Commission decided to extend until March 2024 with the prospect of extending it until 2025. Interior Commissioner Ylva Johansson noted that “temporary protection is proof of unity and solidarity.”

11 million returned.

An interesting element is the fact that 11 million out of 16 million Ukrainians have taken refuge in the EU. they have already returned home. According to Ms. Johansson, this was mainly because they wanted to participate in the resistance to Russian aggression. Many of them are women. At least 200,000 Ukrainians cross the border to and from the EU every week, she said, suggesting this may be because they left their children with relatives and friends. At least 1.3 million children from Ukraine are currently in the EU, but only half of them study in European schools. Mr. Schinas mentioned this, perhaps because several Ukrainian schools offer online courses after the pandemic. However, he noted that during their recent visit to Kiev, members of the Commission reported to the President of Ukraine that the goal of the EU is to raise children “so that they become the generation of a future victorious Ukraine.”

Afghanistan and Iran

In connection with the recent accident in Calabria in southern Italy, where 60 people drowned, including many children, Italian journalists wondered why the said directive does not apply to refugees and immigrants from Afghanistan and Iran. The commissioners responded that these are different cases and that the EU, due to the European elections in 2024, it should and by then will develop a common policy with a holistic approach to immigration.

However, the case of the Ukrainian refugees proved that the EU has both tools and open doors for those seeking asylum, but lacks strong political will for permanent and effective solutions.