A large proportion of Ukrainians can travel visa-free in the EU. This means that the status of a person fleeing their home may be similar to that of an ordinary tourist.
The EU is currently preparing for the flight of up to several million people from their homes in Ukraine.
“Such amounts will probably not be seen immediately, but will be a longer-term estimate,” says an adviser to the Ministry of the Interior. Katri Niskanen.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated on Thursday night that far more than 100,000 people have already fled their homes in Ukraine, which has a population of 44 million.
Estimates of refugee movements live even hourly and depend on what kind of attacks Russia is making and where. However, the number of refugees may increase even higher than in 2015, when a total of approx 1.3 million asylum seekers (moving to another service).
Ukrainians are allowed to travel visa-free in Schengen countries
Niskanen describes the refugee situation in Ukraine as an unprecedented challenge for the EU. This is due not only to the potentially large number of refugees but also to the difficulty of monitoring the movement of Ukrainians.
Those with a biometric passport are allowed to travel visa-free in the Schengen area, ie in almost all EU countries, including Finland.
You can stay in a Schengen country without a visa for three months. Therefore, it will soon be difficult to get an overall picture of the countries that have fled Ukraine.
The status of a fugitive from Ukraine can be like that of an ordinary tourist
Thus, Ukrainians do not necessarily need the status of an asylum seeker to enter, which facilitates access to the labor market, for example.
Employment is also helped by the fact that Ukrainians are already working in many Member States.
On the other hand, without seeking asylum, a person is in principle an “ordinary tourist” and the host country has no obligations towards him. As an asylum seeker, on the other hand, you are entitled to a roof over your head, for example.
Katri Niskanen estimates that at first the Ukrainians who have relatives in the EU or otherwise a place to go are on the move the most.
In the future, one option to resolve the issue of the status of Ukrainian refugees could be the so-called EU temporary protection mechanism.
In practice, it would allow a person fleeing Ukraine to stay and work in an EU country for 1 to 3 years without having to apply for asylum.
– This mechanism has never been used, but it could be a solution worth considering in the context of the war in Ukraine, Niskanen says.
The EU can provide money and official assistance to receive refugees
Ukrainians are now focusing on neighboring countries: Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and non-EU Moldova.
Preparing for the refugee situation is primarily the responsibility of each country, Niskanen emphasizes.
However, the EU can support its member states if necessary. Lithuania, for example, received financial support from the EU when migrants began to flow across the Belarusian border as a result of a hybrid operation last year.
In addition, a communication from the EU’s border guard authority, Frontex, tells that Frontex is prepared to send border control assistance to Ukraine’s borders and other EU countries at “day notice” if necessary.
This means, for example, sending official assistance to border control or registering newcomers.
For the time being, however, the authorities are in a wait-and-see attitude.
– Our estimate is that the first phase will show internal refugees within Ukraine, Lieutenant Colonel, Head of the Border Guard Situation and Risk Analysis Center Mikko Lehmus evaluates over the phone.
Even before Russia launched the attack on Thursday, there were more than 1.5 million internally displaced persons in Ukraine.
Women and children across the border
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi has ordered a general mobilization in Ukraine.
This means that men between the ages of 18 and 60 are not currently allowed to leave the country. It is therefore expected that, at least in the next few weeks, the vast majority of refugees will be women and children.
‘s correspondent Suvi Turtiainen reported early Friday that many men had visited to bring their families to the Polish border and turned themselves back.
Poland is setting up several reception centers
Right now, most Ukrainian refugees are heading to Poland. According to the Polish Border Guard, more than 30,000 people crossed the border on Thursday alone, the AP news agency said.
Many have connections to the country, as there are already an estimated 1.5 to 2 million Ukrainians in Poland.
Poland said in early February that it was preparing to receive Ukrainians fleeing the war.
– We have to prepare for the worst. We have acted so that we are ready for the arrival of up to a million people, the Polish Deputy Minister of the Interior Maciej Wąsik stated Polish Radio (switch to another service) in an interview.
Poland has about 500 kilometers of common border with Ukraine. Polish administration has told you (you’re moving to another service) to set up a number of reception centers at the border, offering food and medical assistance to those fleeing the war, among other things.
In addition, the Polish Minister of Health has planned that the country could help those wounded in the fighting.
Many seek other countries through Romania
More than 10,000 Ukrainian refugees have arrived in Romania in recent days, according to Reuters. Many of them are trying to continue through Romania to the Czech Republic or Poland.
Among Ukraine’s neighbors, Romania is not a very experienced recipient of asylum seekers and is not part of the Schengen area.
It may be one of the countries that needs EU support in hosting Ukrainian refugees.
Romania plans to accommodate refugees in six or seven areas near the border.
Little Moldova has promised to keep its borders open
President of Moldova Mai Sandu said on Thursday that the Ukraine-Moldova border had been crossed more than 4,000 times during the day. According to Sandu (you move to another service) the country is ready to accommodate tens of thousands of people.
Moldova has housed fugitives in temporary tent camps.
Hungary and Slovakia are bringing more labor to their borders
According to Hungarian police, all five checkpoints have had long queues since Thursday.
The Hungarian administration is not known for its pro-immigration nature, but the Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced in a TV speech on Thursday (you will switch to another service)that the country is prepared to take the Ukrainians “quickly and efficiently.” Hungary has already announced that it will send additional labor to its borders.
Slovakia has also brought more troops to its borders. Minister of Defense of the country Jaroslav Nad told news agency Reuters that they plan to open more border crossings.
Accommodation has been provided for about 2,000 refugees in eastern Slovakia.
Sweden and Germany: It is the turn of others to help
In addition to Ukraine’s neighbors, Portugal, for example, has stated that Ukrainians are welcome.
Sweden and Germany, for their part, have said they are ready to help the countries that receive the most Ukrainians.
You can discuss the topic until Sunday 27.2. until 11 p.m.