Europe prepares for a new wave of Ukrainian refugees amid possible cuts in U.S. military support
The growing threat of an escalation of the war in Ukraine against the background of a possible reduction in military support from the United States forces the countries of the European Union to prepare for another influx of refugees. Ministers of internal affairs of EU member states are increasingly discussing the need for a fair distribution of Ukrainians who will seek protection in the event of increased hostilities. About this writes Political.
At the beginning of March, the Minister of the Interior of Germany, Nancy Feser, said that in the event of an escalation of the conflict, it is necessary to ensure a mechanism for the uniform resettlement of Ukrainian refugees between EU countries. According to her, although there is currently no new wave, governments should be prepared for such a scenario.
As of December last year, more than 4.3 million Ukrainians were under temporary protection in European countries. Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic accepted the most refugees. However, if the number of asylum seekers increases, the current reception model will have to be reviewed.
The issue of Ukrainian refugees also sharpens the domestic political debate in Europe about migration policy in general. For example, the new Austrian government has already announced its intention to end the family reunification program for refugees. The country’s Minister of the Interior, Gerhard Karner, noted that Austria has received proportionally more Ukrainians than other countries, and must now focus on their integration.
According to EU legislation, Ukrainians have the status of temporary protection, which gives them the right to live, work and study. However, human rights organizations warn that the temporary nature of this status complicates the process of integration, because people are not sure about their future. At the same time, some countries are taking steps to solve this problem: in the Czech Republic, for example, a mechanism for obtaining a long-term residence permit has been introduced for those who have been in the country for more than two years.
According to experts, the current situation is the biggest migration challenge for Europe since the Second World War. If the war in Ukraine continues without international support, the EU may face a new phase of the crisis, which will require a comprehensive approach and a review of the existing refugee policy.
