Without housing and residence permits: restrictions imposed by EU countries on Ukrainian men
After the adoption of changes to legislation on mobilization, the authorities of most European countries declared that they would not deport or extradite male refugees. However, Poland and the Baltic states have declared their readiness to facilitate the return of men of military age, if appropriate legal procedures are developed for this purpose. Some EU countries also announced partial restrictions for male refugees.
For example, Lithuania will refuse to issue permanent residence permits to Ukrainians of conscription age. And in the Netherlands, men will no longer be able to live in refugee shelters.
Restrictions in Lithuania
“We will not arrange deportations or look for Ukrainian men in the country, because that would be illegal,” said the head of the Lithuanian government Ingrid Simonite.
The Prime Minister of the country emphasized that the European Union guaranteed protection to all Ukrainian refugees until March 2025. Lithuania will fulfill these guarantees.
As for permanent residence permits, they will not be issued to all Ukrainian men, but only to those for whom evidence of evasion of military service in Ukraine will be provided.
“Lithuania wants to help Ukraine, to ensure that it has the capacity to renew its armed forces and to give people who have been fighting for a long time a chance to rest.” – said Mrs. Shimonite.
Ban on living in shelters in the Netherlands
Recently, refugee reception centers in the Netherlands began refusing asylum to men and couples without children. Jaarbeurs Hall 5 in Amsterdam was the first to announce such innovations. Restrictions have been applied in the shelter for more than two months. The reason is banal – there are not enough free seats. Later, other refugee shelters in the country began to use this practice, it is reported local edition of NRC.
It is emphasized that women, families with minor children and “vulnerable sections of the population” are still allowed to live in temporary shelters for migrants. The decision on whether someone will be allowed to live in the accommodation center is made directly at the reception desk of the shelter.
