better protected Western border, following the decisions of the European Union to grant Ukraine candidate status for accession. The measures stipulated in Assembly Resolution 2539 (2024) and Recommendation 2271 (2024) “Support for the reconstruction of Ukraine” provide an excellent blueprint for action.

15. As regards the externally displaced persons under temporary protection in Europe, the Assemblywelcomes the European Union’s decision to activate the Temporary Protection Directive 2001/55/EC forUkraine. It supports the proposals to either prolong the validity of the directive, which is due to expire in March2025, or to identify a longer-term residency solution for Ukraine’s citizens currently living on territory of theEuropean Union, while ensuring and safeguarding the capacity of Ukraine to continue to defend itself and torebuild its society, counting on the participation of its citizens including those now out of the country.

16. The Assembly reaffirms the rights of all individuals including the temporary protection beneficiaries toapply for asylum at any point as protected under international and European Union laws and affirmed by thejurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the European Union.

17. To this end, European Union member States may consider granting the Ukrainians under temporaryprotection the right to permanent residency in the host country after a three-year period of residence,regardless of age, gender, disability, religion, or other circumstances. The Assembly welcomes the decisionsin this direction taken under the national legal systems by some non-European Union Council of Europemember States. As regards Ukrainians who have changed their country of asylum, States could similarly granta permanent residency in the new host country, after reaching a three-year period of residence, provided thatsuch term is considered sufficient for integration into a new place of residence by the host country.

18. The future of the Ukrainian population which has sought safety in other European countries should beconsidered from the long-term perspective of future membership of the country in the European Union.Granting long-term residence for these future European Union citizens would allow them to integrate fasterand be better able to contribute to strengthening the European Union as a whole, especially in the face of thegeopolitical challenges of our continent today following the Russian aggression.

19. As regards access to the labour market, the Assembly reiterates its call for policy planning aimed atcreating job opportunities for newly arriving persons, in accordance with the Assembly Resolution 2502 (2023)“Integration of migrants and refugees: benefits for all parties involved”. Council of Europe member States areencouraged to step up efforts to ensure suitable opportunities and to recognise qualifications obtained inUkraine, providing where necessary continued education to enhance qualifications in accordance with thelegislation of the host country.

20. The Assembly welcomes the measures to facilitate access to employment and social security schemesopen under the Temporary Protection Directive 2001/55/EC (Article 12), which stipulates that “the general lawin force in the Member States applicable to remuneration, access to social security systems relating toemployed or self-employed activities and other conditions of employment shall apply”.

21. The Assembly calls upon member States to ensure adequate protection for people with disabilities whohad to leave Ukraine and are now under temporary protection in Europe. Mutual recognition of disabilitystatus, of the disability degree, and of medical and disability certificates, is essential. States should alsoenable access to adequate social protection and rehabilitation programmes for those in need of support.

22. The Assembly highlights the importance of creating opportunities for the displaced people of Ukraine topreserve and promote their cultural heritage. Bearing in mind the Assembly’s work on “Countering the erasureof cultural identity in war and peace”, it recommends that member States hosting temporarily displacedpersons from Ukraine:

22.1. facilitate their access to their own heritage, encouraging cultural exchange programmes, partnerships, joint artistic collaborations and the organisation of cultural festivals and exhibitions;

22.2. provide support and resources for artists, writers, musicians, and other cultural professionals by funding initiatives, grants, and residency programmes;

22.3. promote the Ukrainian language, by supporting independent publishers and translations of Ukrainian literature, and by setting up dedicated bookshelves in libraries.

23. As regards in particular support for Ukraine’s children living abroad, States could do more to betterregulate, in the host countries, the residence, movement, and protection of the rights of the children ofUkraine. Special attention should be paid to children without parents and children who have moved withguardians or caregivers, to ensure their rights to access education, medical care, and social support

Resolution 2562 (2024)

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