European Union interior ministers are set to discuss on Thursday whether men of military age should be excluded from temporary protection granted to refugees from Ukraine, according to information obtained by dpa.
Two proposals are on the table, dpa has learnt, either an extension of the current protection scheme for all Ukrainian refugees – which is valid until March 4, 2027 – for a further year, or an extension that would exclude Ukrainian men aged between 23 and 60 from temporary protection.
Should the EU member states prefer the second option, the new regulation would likely only apply to men arriving in the EU for the first time.
Officials have already held preliminary discussions on how such a restriction could be implemented without creating excessive administrative burdens. One idea being considered that a Ukrainian exit stamp might suffice to determine whether a man has left Ukraine legally or not.
A European Commission spokesman said only that discussions on a possible extension of the protection scheme were ongoing and aimed at finding the best solution for Ukraine and its people.
War refugees from Ukraine are currently being admitted to the European Union under the Mass Influx Directive.
In Ukraine, men aged between 18 and 60 are liable for military service and are subject to conscription. However, only conscripts aged 25 and over are currently being called up for military service.
Ukrainian men aged between 18 and 22 have been permitted to leave the country since August 2025. Men aged between 23 and 60 remain subject to a travel ban. However, there are various exemptions, for example for single fathers, athletes or journalists.