Poland intends to extend temporary protection for refugees from Ukraine until July

This is stated in the draft amendments to the law on assistance to Ukrainian citizens in connection with the armed conflict in the country, which is being developed by the Polish Ministry of Internal Affairs.

It is noted that following the extension of temporary protection for displaced persons from Ukraine in the EU until March 4, 2025, and in accordance with the Polish law of March 12, 2022, on assistance to citizens of Ukraine, it is planned to "extend the validity of certain legal decisions provided for by this law until June 30, 2024."

The Polish government plans to start working on "significant amendments and extension of the law" in accordance with the above-mentioned decision of the EU Council.

"These works will begin immediately after extensive consultations with local governments, state institutions, non-governmental organizations and other interested parties," the document says.

It is proposed that residence permits in Poland should be valid until June 30, as well as the availability of buildings where Ukrainian refugees live compactly.

In addition, the draft law provides for the extension until June 30 of this year of the possibility of work by doctors, dentists, nurses and midwives from Ukraine.

The Polish government plans to adopt these amendments to the law on assistance to Ukrainians in the first quarter of this year. It is proposed that it will come into force the day after its announcement.

• EU countries approved the extension of temporary protection for refugees from Ukraine until March 2025.
• According to Eurostat, as of the end of November 2023, 4.27 million Ukrainian citizens had been granted temporary protection in the EU. Germany (1,235,960 people; 28.9% of the EU total), Poland (955,110; 22.3%) and the Czech Republic (369,330; 8.6%) received the largest number of Ukrainian refugees.