The Ukrainian government has begun developing an action plan for 2026–2027 to coordinate measures in the event of the potential termination of temporary protection status within the European Union. The European Directive on Temporary Protection, activated in March 2022, currently remains valid until March 4, 2027. According to Eurostat, over 4.3 million Ukrainian citizens reside in EU countries under this legal mechanism. However, the future status of this policy remains uncertain, prompting the Ukrainian side to develop preparedness tools to support the voluntary return and stable reintegration of citizens into their native communities.
Deputy Minister for European Integration Ilona Havronska reported that the outlined plan must be highly practical, considering the scale of its impact on the lives of millions of people. The state must address the real needs of its citizens, irrespective of the timing of their return, whether immediately following the conclusion of European programs or substantially later.
Key focus areas of the two-year plan include close coordination with EU governments, the deployment of the “Unity Network” to support Ukrainians abroad, the development of new digital support tools, and the preparation of infrastructure in Ukrainian communities to accommodate returning individuals.
The document’s development is underway as part of the international project “YOUA — Shaping New Paths, Building Ukraine’s Future,” with Germany’s GIZ providing financial and expert support in collaboration with the German government.
It is worth noting that earlier reports highlighted Ukraine’s lack of comprehensive infrastructural preparedness and a clear strategy for accommodating the millions of its citizens displaced abroad due to the full-scale invasion.
