Refugees will be paid to return home after the war: what you should know
During the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, about 6 million citizens left Ukraine to escape the war. These are mostly women and children. Most of them received asylum in European countries. To stimulate their return home after the end of the war, EU countries will pay Ukrainians. The corresponding resolution was adopted this week by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
Return assistance
“After the end of hostilities, Ukrainians who will return to live in Ukraine will be able to receive financial assistance from European countries”, – said People’s Deputy Oleksiy Goncharenko, who is the head of the PACE Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons.
It should be emphasized that the decisions of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe are of a recommendatory nature. However, most often PACE resolutions have a real influence on the adoption of final decisions at the level of the EU or individual member states of the bloc.
Some European countries have already planned or even implemented programs to return Ukrainian refugees home. For example, starting in 2023, Norway will pay 17.5 thousand crowns (1.2 thousand dollars) to every Ukrainian with the status of collective protection and a residence permit in the country, who is ready to return to the Motherland. These funds are provided only to those who are ready to buy a ticket to Ukraine and immediately return home.
This year a similar initiative worked in the Czech Republic. However, there they only offer refugees to pay for their way to the Motherland. The Czech Ministry of Internal Affairs initiated the program for the return of Ukrainians. In total, 5.5 million kroner will be allocated to the program. The funds will be used for tickets and transportation by special transport of Ukrainians who need special medical care and support.
In 2024, according to the Czech program, 430 Ukrainians should return home. If the project is successful, the initiative can be continued.
Payments for IDPs
Also, on the initiative of Goncharenko, the PACE adopted a resolution on the continuation of payments for internally displaced persons.
“Our government should continue to financially support internally displaced persons,” – believes Oleksiy Honcharenko.
Among other things, the resolution for internally displaced persons (IDPs) contains the following points:
- payments of social assistance and pensions;
- financial support for access to social housing and loans for the restoration of private housing;
- financing for starting a business for IDPs and creating new jobs;
- protection of children of internally displaced persons;
- provision of financial, security and humanitarian aid to Ukrainian cities and regions from European countries.