Austria is pushing for a future policy that will no longer grant protective status to certain groups of Ukrainian war refugees, according to “Die Welt”. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) stated to the newspaper that automatic protection status for Ukrainian men will be discontinued as of March 2027. The Minister argued that this change is needed because Ukraine itself requires its male citizens in military-age years. He believes this measure will relieve Austria of pressure while simultaneously helping Ukraine maintain both its defense capabilities and its economic productivity by ensuring its own citizens remain within the country. Karner announced that Austria intends to advocate for corresponding legal changes during the EU Interior Ministers’ consultations in Luxembourg on Thursday, urging for “swift action” to ensure legal certainty for those affected. Contextually, Ukrainian law currently restricts men between the ages of 23 and 60 from leaving their homeland without a permit. Furthermore, men aged 18 to 60 are subject to conscription in Ukraine. However, according to Ukrainian legislation, men aged 18 to 22 are permitted to travel outside the country starting in August 2025, meaning they would not fall under the planned new EU regulations. Currently, Ukrainian war refugees are accepted throughout the EU under the so-called Mass Influx Directive, which allows applicants to quickly receive protection status without needing to undergo an individual asylum review.
Politics
