Extension of temporary protection (Ukraine) until 4 March 2027

The Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) has recently published a new extension of temporary protection until 4 March 2027, in the Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1460 of 15 July 2025 extending the temporary protection introduced by Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382, of which we highlight:

(1) On 4 March 2022, the Council adopted Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382. (²), for which there is a mass influx of displaced persons from Ukraine within the meaning of Article 5 of Directive 2001/55/EC and with the effect of initiating temporary protection.

(2) In accordance with Article 4(1) of Directive 2001/55/EC, the temporary protection was first applied for an initial period of one year, until 4 March 2023, and then automatically extended for a further year, until 4 March 2024.

(3) On 19 October 2023, the Council adopted Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2409. (³), for which the temporary protection introduced by Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382 is extended until 4 March 2025. On 11 June 2024, the Council adopted Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1836. (⁴), for which this temporary protection is extended until 4 March 2026.

(…)

(10) As the high number of displaced persons in the Union benefiting from temporary protection is not likely to decrease as long as the war against Ukraine continues, it is necessary to extend the temporary protection to address their situation or that of persons who will need such protection from 5 March 2026, as it provides immediate protection and access to a harmonised set of rights, minimising formalities in a situation of mass influx to the Union. The extension of temporary protection will also help to ensure that Member States’ asylum systems are not overwhelmed by a significant increase in the number of applications for international protection that could be lodged by persons benefiting from temporary protection during the period ending 4 March 2026. if temporary protection ceases at that time, or by persons fleeing the war in Ukraine and arriving in the Union during the period from 5 March 2026 to 4 March 2027.

(11) Therefore, taking into account the persistence of the grounds for temporary protection, that temporary protection for the categories of displaced persons referred to in Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382 should be extended until 4 March 2027.

(…)

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The temporary protection granted to displaced persons from Ukraine referred to in Article 2 of Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382, as extended by Implementing Decisions (EU) 2023/2409 and (EU) 2024/1836, is extended for a further period of one year until 4 March 2027.