Temporary Protection for Ukrainians in Poland Extended Until 30 June 2024

In February of this year, thousands of Ukrainian war refugees in Poland finally received the news they had been waiting for – an extension of temporary protection (for Ukrainians holding a PESEL UKR number). However, many are concerned that temporary protection for Ukrainian citizens in Poland has only been extended by four months – until 30 June 2024. Nevertheless, the Polish authorities have good reasons for this decision.

On 9 February, the Polish Sejm voted to extend the "Special Act on Assistance to Ukrainian Citizens in Connection with the Armed Conflict on the Territory of That Country" until 30.06.2024. The vote passed with 414 members in favour (15 members from the Confederation party voted against, and one member from Law and Justice abstained).

As a reminder, under the provisions of the Special Act, Ukrainian citizens who legally entered Poland due to the full-scale war are entitled to: ✔ the right to reside in the country; ✔ access to the labour market; ✔ the right to social benefits; ✔ access to healthcare.

The document was then forwarded to the Senate for approval. On 20 February, the office of Andrzej Duda announced that the President had signed the amendments to the act on assistance to Ukrainians in Poland, meaning the law came into force. It could be said that Polish officials and lawmakers acted at the last moment this time, as the previous Special Act was set to expire on 4 March 2024.

In many EU countries, temporary protection has been extended until 4 March 2025, as required by the EU Council's decision. Germany took the relevant decision as early as last autumn, as did Spain, Denmark, Latvia, and others.

Why Did Poland Not Extend Temporary Protection for Ukrainians Until 2025?

According to officials, they need time to review the Special Act and propose significant amendments to it. Poland wants this document to reflect the current situation of Ukrainian war refugees.

In a comment to Radio Svoboda, Maciej Duszczyk, Deputy Secretary of State at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration, noted:

"We want Ukrainian citizens to decide for themselves whether they want to stay in Poland or return to Ukraine. We will also consult with the Ukrainian government to ensure that extending temporary protection is not perceived as something contrary to the interests of Ukraine, which is fighting Russian aggression at the front."

Gremi Personal will continue to keep you informed about changes affecting Ukrainians in Poland.

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