Ukraine: EU support to help Member States meet the needs of refugees

The European Commission outlines the actions being taken to support Member States in meeting the needs of those fleeing the war against Ukraine and its people. Some 3.5 million people – mainly women and children – have arrived in the EU in the space of just four weeks. Around 6.5 million people are estimated to be displaced internally. Communication follows from the decision taken on 4 March to introduce temporary protection for persons fleeing the war, which grants them the right to accommodation, healthcare, access to the jobs market and education. It complements the Commission's operational?guidelines?to support Member States in applying the Temporary Protection Directive. It also complements the Commission's operational?guidelines on external border management,?intended to help Member States' border guards in managing arrivals at the borders with Ukraine efficiently.  

The available support includes: 

• Special protection for children: Children need to be guaranteed swift access to their rights, without discrimination. Their registration upon entry into the EU is key. The EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child provides a comprehensive framework for the protection and the fulfilment of the rights of the child. National coordinators now in place under the European Child Guarantee have a key role to play in galvanising and coordinating the effort at a national level and with regional and local authorities. In this context, specific focus is given to children from institutions (such as orphanages), and children at risk of trafficking and abduction. On top of this, the Commission is preparing dedicated Standard Operating Procedures for transfers of unaccompanied minors. 
• Access to education: Helping pupils, students and teachers in these difficult times is a priority. The Commission will bring together Member States to start sharing experiences and identify what is needed to continue the education of displaced children. The School Education Gateway will serve as a one-stop shop to link to educational material from Ukraine and Member States' material in the Ukrainian language. It will also be essential to draw on the capacities of Ukrainian teachers among the new arrivals in Europe. The eTwinning community can help groups created in the secure space of the platform to support teachers. Flexibility in the Erasmus+ funding programme will also be used to support the education of refugee students and the integration of staff of higher education institutions who are fleeing the war.  

• Access to healthcare: Thanks to a solidarity mechanism set up by the Commission, people in urgent need of specialised hospital treatment can be quickly transferred between Member States for such treatments, with 10,000 beds already available. The ECDC monitors the health situation on the ground and has issued guidelines on the prevention and control of infectious diseases. The Commission, through HERA, also supports the supply of vaccines, with a particular focus on childhood vaccination. Finally, it will take targeted actions on mental health and trauma support for those fleeing the war, including the set-up of a network of Ukrainian-speaking mental health professionals. 
• Access to jobs: Member States are invited to take measures to help those arriving swiftly take up their right to work, as well as vocational training. This includes informing people about their rights under the Temporary Protection Directive, providing language or business support, and ensuring access to childcare, with a key role for public employment services to act as matchmakers on the labour market. The Commission has added the Ukrainian language to the EU Skills Profile Tool for non-EU nationals to help Ukrainian job seekers and those who wish to continue their studies showcase their skills and connect with opportunities and guidance on next steps. The Commission will also pilot a new Talent Pool to match skills with job vacancies. Other Commission initiatives in this area include developing new guidelines to facilitate recognition of professional qualifications obtained in Ukraine and working with social partners to help inform the private sector about the rights under temporary protection and the programmes available.  
• Access to accommodation and housing: To meet immediate needs for suitable accommodation, a new “safe homes” initiative will support Europeans who are making their homes available, mobilising targeted funding and online resources as needed. In addition, the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, as well as Cohesion Policy funds, will be mobilised to strengthen public reception systems. In the longer term, the European Regional Development Fund helps to provide social housing for families and individuals in the community, and the Fund can cover both the purchase and refurbishment of accommodation. The European Social Fund can support community-based services and accommodation, especially for those with special needs, disabilities, children and older people. 

Solidarity in action 

The Commission has set up a Solidarity Platform, bringing together Member States and EU Agencies, to coordinate support to Member States in need. The Platform will help organise the transfers of people within the EU to the Member States that have reception capacity and can also help establish pathways towards non-EU countries that already host significant Ukrainian communities, such as Canada or the United Kingdom. Solidarity has also come from the private sector, with many transport companies organising humanitarian trains and providing free tickets to those fleeing. The EU is helping repatriate non-Ukrainian nationals who were caught up in the war in Ukraine, for instance with the first Frontex-supported humanitarian voluntary return flights from Poland to Tajikistan and Kyrgyszstan. 

Fast, flexible solutions to support solidarity 

The Commission has taken immediate action to help mobilise financial support to Member States hosting those fleeing war in Ukraine. This includes the proposal on the Cohesion's Action for Refugees in Europe (CARE) and amendments to the 2014-2020 Home Affairs Funds. Tailor-made support via the Technical Support Instrument will provide Member States help to build institutional and operational capacity to welcome people fleeing the war in Ukraine, enhancing their social and economic integration and making the best use of available EU funds to provide accommodation for families or unaccompanied children. In addition, available funding under REACT-EU, in particular its 2022 tranche of up to €10 billion, can be used by the Member States. To support Member States, and particularly those closest to the EU border with Ukraine, €3.4 billion pre-financing payments under REACT-EU will be made available to speed up access to funds. Significant funding is also available under the agreed 2021-2027 financial framework from both Home Affairs and Cohesion Policy funds.  

For More Information  

Communication on Welcoming those fleeing war in Ukraine: Readying Europe to meet the needs 

Factsheet 

Website?- EU solidarity with Ukraine 

Website?- Information for people fleeing the war in Ukraine