Article written by Isabela Paro and Maria Cerdeira
The European Union has adopted temporary protection for refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine, but with demand for those who left the country to escape the war from 24 February 2022, and lack of travel and medical documents will not be an impasse. In this sense, this protection gives the right to residency, medical access, early childhood education and the labor market. This humanitarian visa provision process has a procedure that is applied to all EU countries, however, the greater presence of refugees in former socialist countries territorially close to Ukraine is notable.
The purpose of this protection is to relieve pressure on national asylum systems and allow displaced persons to enjoy harmonized rights across the EU.. For example, residence, access to the labor market and housing, medical care and access to education. Such a decision allows the refugee to be activated for an initial period of one year., the Commission may propose to the Council an extension if necessary. All Ukrainians residing in Ukraine before 24 February 2022 are eligible for the humanitarian protection visa, as well as non-Ukrainians who had humanitarian protection in Ukraine.
In this context, the countries that received the most refugees were Poland, Romania, Moldavia, Hungary, Russia and Slovakia, according to the UN. Poland had received 2.490.447 refugees until the day 5 of April, being the main destination of the Ukrainians. The main form of transport used is trains., making countries territorially closer and more accessible. However,, countries such as Poland and Moldova have already asked for international aid to the European Union and other countries to help with refugee spending., since they are not able to offer all the rights to the Ukrainians with only the current resources.
In conclusion, the reception of refugees and the integration policies are the same in the countries of the European Union, offering rights for Ukrainians to integrate socially and allowing the Ukrainian government to better organize itself in this period of war. However,, countries that were members of the Soviet bloc receive, in practice, more refugees than the rest of Europe, mainly due to its territorial proximity, which causes them to spend more on refugees and need more international resources and aid.
Sources:
Tortella, Tiago. CNN. European Union grants temporary protection to refugees from Ukraine. 04 April 2022. Available in: <https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/internacional/uniao-europeia-concede-protecao-temporaria-a-refugiados-da-ucrania/?amp> Access in: 09 from May of 2022
European Comission. Information for people fleeing the war in Ukraine. Available in:
<https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/stronger-europe-world/eu-solidarity-ukraine/eu-assistance-ukraine/information-people-fleeing-war-ukraine_en> Access in: 09 from May of 2022
BBC. What is the fate of the millions of Ukrainian refugees. Available in: <https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/internacional-61021779.amp> Access in: 09 from May of 2022
